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Fmr DNC Chair Romer Backs Obama
May 13, 2008 10:45 AM
ABC News' Teddy Davis, Sunlen Miller, and Mike Elmore Report: Roy Romer, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former governor of Colorado, said Tuesday that he is supporting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president. In announcing his decision, Romer urged other superdelegates to do the same, saying that "it's important" for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., "to know where we are so she is not misled."
"My reasons are that the party needs to get on right now with a lot of business, including figuring out what to do with Michigan and Florida," Romer told ABC News. "It's important to make known right now not only my vote but as many superdelegates as possible."
Romer said his support for Obama is based on the delegate math as well as Obama's strength in the interior Mountain West: the Illinois Democrat carried Colorado over Clinton by a two-to-one margin: Obama 67%, Clinton 32%.
After previewing his announcement with ABC News, Romer joined Obama campaign manager David Plouffe on a conference call with reporters.
Romer elaborated on his delegate math rationale saying, ‘This race, I believe is over. Sen. Obama has accumulated a lead in delegates chosen by primaries, caucuses and superdelegates that cannot be overcome. “
Plouffe used the endorsement by the former Colorado governor to underscore Obama's determination to win the Centennial State in November.
“We believe Colorado, a state Gov. Romer knows as well as anybody, is going to be not just a Battleground State, but a state we can win and put in the Obama column in November," said Plouffe.
Romer had been previously reluctant to discuss his support for a presidential candidate because he is leading Ed in '08, a non-partisan effort to make education reform a centerpiece of the 2008 campaign.
Asked if announcing his support for Obama conflicted with his Ed in '08 role, Romer pointed to the Republican affiliation of the group's executive director.
"My partner here, Marc Lampkin is a Bush Republican, a McCain Republican, so we are still one Democrat and one Republican who will be working even handedly," Romer told ABC News.
Asked to weigh in on Obama's support for performance-based pay for individual teachers (one area of education policy which differentiates the Illinois senator from Clinton), Romer said, "I think he's got a very responsible position in that area."
"My role is to do educational advocacy," explained Romer, "yet, I'm a citizen who votes and I have to fulfill my obligation to my party."
By making his announcement, Romer may have enhanced his clout in an Obama White House. Plouffe said the Obama campaign will seek the counsel and advice of Romer on education issues.
May 13, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (46)
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justme2see... we have never had a truly democratic party, we have never had a true democracy... we have a democratic republic. We vote for other people to vote for us.
Posted by: matt | May 13, 2008 10:57:56 AM
It is the right time for them to decide the candidate best suit for the job. I do have great regard for Hillary but can not just win this nomination any longer. It is ttme to come together as one family and one people to put all our forces together to defeat the REPUBLICAN IN THE FALL. THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY FROM NOW ONWARD AS DEMOCRAT.
Posted by: I.A. SMITH | May 13, 2008 11:03:26 AM
Hope you enjoy paying higher taxes so obama can send the money to africa.
Posted by: justme2see | May 13, 2008 11:03:44 AM
How nice that a lot of people are opening up their eyes widely and realise that the moment has come.
Even James Carville who once called Bill Richardson "Judas" has now conceeded.
Who will tell Hillary and some of her supporters that "This is the reality", the bird has slipped from the hands and you can't catch it!!!! It has gone.
Posted by: Peace | May 13, 2008 11:04:23 AM
Split the vote and let McCain in that's a positive solution!
Posted by: ItsJustMe | May 13, 2008 11:04:39 AM
I just love when the "true" democrats throw a temper tantrum because their candidate is losing. Really, as a Democrat, what is voting for McCain going to accomplish. Are you really gonna cut off your nose to spite your face?
Even Clinton has said it several times...the differences between her and Obama are miniscule compared to the differences on policy between her and McCain. Let's grow up, people!
Posted by: What.Say.Me... | May 13, 2008 11:10:24 AM
justme2see
anybody who can go for McCain from Clinton wasn't voting on trying to help this country anyway...
if you can go from Clinton to Mccain that means one of two things...
You are voting out of spite...which is really adult and helpful to the country
or
You put race, and old time politics ahead of saving the country.
Period.
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 11:11:34 AM
I think we need a third party, whatever name. It's a pity to count Hillary out. She is such a brilliant lady.
We should see three persons to compete, Hillary, McCain or Obama, see who wins in the fall.
Sometimes, the winner is not the best. We already seen this happen in the past 7 years. Why do we want to see this again?
The SDs backing Obama, I don't see they have ration, their reason is just that, Obama is young, or they want the race to finish soon. They don't THINK who is really the best candidate for the country.
Posted by: golfgirlusa | May 13, 2008 11:12:37 AM
The superdelegates are trying to bring unity to the dem party, when it only divides us further. Oblama is a very scary figure, with only 1 year national experience, in his own words he did not have enough experience.
Posted by: justme2see | May 13, 2008 11:15:11 AM
golfgirlusa
You are wrong... Obama is the right candidate at the right time.
and when we choose the right candidatt with the right message at the right time...that is when a party wins.
It is when they pick the person who was the embedded candidate...the one who was the senior member...or the next in line...or the one with the most experience...that they and we have lost.
It is not about paying dues...it is about the right judgement and vision for the problems and status of the world at this time.
Obama is the one candidate who can do what the others can't...the biggest issue of all...get our standing back in the world. A vote for Obama is if nothing else a vote for the "right candidate at the right time" rather than old political machines just forcing their way through.
All I can say is Thank God for the internet.
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 11:18:07 AM
oblama can't even win half of the 57 states...ha, ha, ha, he is such a joke
Posted by: justme2see | May 13, 2008 11:20:13 AM
justme2see
vote for Mccain in the face of extending this war
in Mccain's own words...he is not an economist...and his policies show it...
so what are you voting for...did you know he was the ChairPerson in 2002/3 of the Committee for Iraq Liberation? Yes he and Lieberman...with a bunch of right wing nut jobs...who pushed this war before we were even in it.
Did you know that?
MCCain has the experience all right...the same experience that got us here.
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 11:20:58 AM
Clinton supporters remind me of my 7-year-old when playing with his 5-year-old brother. If he can't get his way, he sulks in the corner and refuses to play.
Posted by: Deep Release | May 13, 2008 11:26:13 AM
dl, I will proudly tell my kids that I helped to defeat Oblama and cast my vote for John McCain.
Posted by: justme2see | May 13, 2008 11:40:45 AM
What makes you think OBama can deliver what he panders you have nothing to go on but hope and change.
Posted by: Bishop | May 13, 2008 11:47:01 AM
Its unfortunate whe Hill was winning 3 digits superdelegates nobody was critisizing the democratic enviroment in the party, but when they begin to fall in line towards the OOO Team, there is a problem and people want to swicth to McCain. these kind of politics is even fading out in Ghana my country. Big-up and be patrotic party followwers. allow the Superdelegates and Delegates to vote according to what they believe in and what see. Long live our great party. long live the nominee
Posted by: Nii Kojo Annan-Ghana | May 13, 2008 11:50:18 AM
and Bishop and justme2see
on the night of the election put yourselves there what is on tv...how has the world changed on that night... how does the world view us...how has this country evolved if...
John Mccain won. are people in europe and asia and south america cheering for us... probably not
if Barack Obama wins... are their celebrations in the streets of Buenos Aires, Melbourne, London, Paris Madrid Tokyo Beijing Moscow, Budapest, canada...has the terrorists job become harder because more of the people of the world are rooting for us?
Read the papers from around the world...the rest of the world community is watching and if you were informed most are viewing this as a test for us and their support...
which candidate suddenly makes better again to "buy American"
Unfortunately as big of a hero as he was in the war... it is not McCain.
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 11:52:35 AM
Well when hope and change buy your gas, help with the housing crisis, health care, etc, then you vote for mr. I have 1 year national experience, in my own words not ready to run yet. Enjoy
Posted by: justme2see | May 13, 2008 11:54:35 AM
justme2see
Well when hope and change buy your gas, help with the housing crisis, health care, etc, then you vote for mr. I have 1 year national experience, in my own words not ready to run yet. Enjoy
and how exactly is McCain helping those?
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 11:56:28 AM
and if you'll remember
Bill Clinton
had less national experience than Obama.
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 11:58:43 AM
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