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Pelosi's Delegate Stance Boosts Obama
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ShareMarch 14, 2008 6:08 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Friday that it would be "harmful" to Democrats if superdelegates were to give the party's presidential nomination to a candidate who is trailing in the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses.
"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections," said Pelosi, "it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."
Although Pelosi offered her assessment without directly referencing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., her comments lend considerable support to the Illinois Democrat.
Obama leads Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in pledged delegates: 1,396 to 1,241. Because of the proportional system used by the Democratic Party to allocate delegates, Obama is widely expected to remain in front of Clinton in pledged delegates at the conclusion of the primary season.
Political prognosticators give Clinton more of a chance of catching, or even surpassing, Obama in the national popular vote but Pelosi argued that superdelegates should follow the pledged-delegate, not the popular-vote, leader.
"But what if one candidate has won the popular vote and the other candidate has won the delegates?" asked Stephanopoulos.
"But it's a delegate race," Pelosi replied. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."
Pelosi's comments to Stephanopoulos, which were made in Washington, D.C., air Friday evening on ABC News' "World News with Charles Gibson."
The full interview with Pelosi airs Sunday morning on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
March 14, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (245)
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For once I agree with Nancy Pelosi!
Posted by: reaganfan | Mar 14, 2008 6:15:30 PM
I rarely agree with the Democratic leadership including Pelosi and Reid. They are spineless!
But, this is by far the most courageous thing I've heard this year!
Thank you
Posted by: Wayne | Mar 14, 2008 6:31:41 PM
Pelosi is right, not because of the reason she gave but because of the fact that "super" delegates are undemocratic (as a process) and unDemocratic (do not belong in the party). Now, let's get on with the primaries and caucuses--and we can all have fun betting on when Hillary will, finally, throw in the towel.
Posted by: Dayahka | Mar 14, 2008 6:32:53 PM
Nancy Pelosi can't even run the congress so what makes her a reliable voice in this election. She needs to be fired from after all the blunders in the congress. Let's just say her judgement isn't that good. She's not so popular in California anyway.
Posted by: Lois, California | Mar 14, 2008 6:35:56 PM
But the delegates in my state do not have to vote with the poular vote winner.
Posted by: JMark | Mar 14, 2008 6:36:10 PM
No, she is wrong. Whom ever is leading in the popular vote is the person who should get the nomination. What the heck is wrong with you people. We are a representative government. If more people vote for one candidate then they deserve the nomination.
Which is also why Al Gore should have been the President in 2000...
God, how quickly we forget.
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE!
Posted by: Trevor | Mar 14, 2008 6:37:30 PM
Thank you, Ms. Pelosi!
Posted by: yoli | Mar 14, 2008 6:37:40 PM
I just enjoy watching all of this!
Posted by: Dan, St Louis | Mar 14, 2008 6:38:12 PM
Exactly MS Pelosi, the delegates chose the nominee. ALL the delegates chosen though all the processes that designate delegates, including ex officio delegates.
All the delegates get to vote at convention and choose the nominee they think would make the best Presidential candidate, regarless of the vote.
Those are the rules!
Exactly Ms Pelosi.
Posted by: s.b. | Mar 14, 2008 6:38:33 PM
Normally, I would agree with Ms. Pelosi insofar that the will of the people should be respected.
However, the Democrats have Super-delegates for a reason; to make sure the wackos in their party don't nominate a candidate who is unelectable in the general election.
As much joy as it would give me to watch the Dem's shoot themselves in the foot this election cycle and nominate Obama, the reasoned strategist in me says that the Super-delegates should do their job and protect their party, and back Hillary all the way.
Posted by: Kenrda Woods | Mar 14, 2008 6:38:44 PM
Pelosi's right. Must have galled Clintonite Stephanopoulos to hear it in so straightforward way: In other words, she didn't talk in circles like Howard Dean.
Good job by Pelosi.
Posted by: fougasseu | Mar 14, 2008 6:39:05 PM
Pelosi is completely correct and I'm glad she has the spine to say it. If we buy into a bunch of alternate universe approaches, we end up debating what the meaning of "is" is....
Posted by: steve texas | Mar 14, 2008 6:39:11 PM
Besides, the popular vote does not take into account states the use caucuses. So the only fair way to determine who got the "popular" vote is by delegates. Is Stephanopolous that dumb.
Posted by: Harry | Mar 14, 2008 6:39:49 PM
Just a hunch, but I don't think Nancy will be getting a Christmas card from the Clintons this year.
Posted by: John, Las Vegas, NV | Mar 14, 2008 6:39:53 PM
Exactly MS Pelosi, the delegates choose the nominee. ALL the delegates chosen though all the processes that designate delegates, including ex-officio delegates.
All the delegates get to vote at convention and choose the nominee they think would make the best Presidential candidate at that time, regardless of the vote.
Those are the rules!
Exactly Ms Pelosi.
Posted by: s.b. | Mar 14, 2008 6:40:22 PM
aren't the democrats the ones who said a similar situation wasn't fair in 2000?
Posted by: ds | Mar 14, 2008 6:40:24 PM
I hear that Bill Clinton just offered Spitzer's hooker a job at his Clinton Library in Arkansas.. Since her saw her photo. He was just dying to get her on his staff..
Posted by: smearjay | Mar 14, 2008 6:42:50 PM
Its a good thing Nancy doesn't get to vote for everyone and decie who gets to be Vp for the nominee and well decide everything for everyone, which is obviously what she wants.
Honestly it's none of her business how superdelegates vote, or how any other delegates vote for that matter.
They get to vote for who thay want no matter what aunt Nancy says.
Maybe she could try doing her job. I hear it hasnt been going that well.
Posted by: s.b. | Mar 14, 2008 6:43:52 PM
I agree with Pelosi.It's the delegates that count, not who has won the popular vote. Otherwise, why even have delegates? That's the way the system is set up as of now. Maybe someday the delegates (and electoral college) will be done away with and only the popular vote will matter. But that's not the case today. Sorry, Hitlery....
Posted by: Todd | Mar 14, 2008 6:45:27 PM
PELOSI: KEEP YOUR YAPPER SHUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: PedroS | Mar 14, 2008 6:46:02 PM
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