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Superdelegate Senators Assess '08 Race
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ShareMay 07, 2008 2:04 PM
ABC's Z. Byron Wolf Reports: There is a high-level meeting of 49 superdelegates going on behind closed doors right now.
It's the weekly party policy luncheon in the US Senate. And while there are a number of important legislative topics on the agenda (the war supplemental, a gas prices control bill, the farm bill and more) you can bet that last night's returns from Indiana and North Carolina are being discussed as senators queue up in the buffet line.
Going into the lunch, reporters asked senators for their assessments.
On his way to lunch, Sen. Teddy Kennedy, D-Mass, one of Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., high profile backers said the Democratic nomination seems to belong to the Illinois senator.
"I pay tribute to Senator Clinton. She has been making her case and doing it effectively, but the outcome is very clear as to what's for the Democratic nomination. It's effectively Barack Obama's nomination. Its pretty effectively sewed up and I don't see any possibility of altering or changing that inevitable fact," Kennedy said.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., who was Hillary Clinton's, D-N.Y., chief backer in Hoosier State said he is operating on fumes after returning to Washington at 4am this morning, admitting that Clinton's path going forward is treacherous, but he that bringing state voters to the table for yesterday's primary was worth it.
"Obviously the numbers are what they are, but things can have a way of changing," Bayh said.
"Some of these voices say that was effectively over had been listened to we wouldn't have even mattered. Those 1.3 million people that went to the polls yesterday, they wouldn't have bothered to go vote. And that would have been a shame. It would have been a shame for them, for our state, and I think ultimately for the Democratic party. So I'm just a little reluctant to call for the disenfranchisement of the people in other states," Bayh said.
That is not an argument that works for Sen. Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who endorsed Obama after folding his own presidential campaign earlier this year.
Dodd pointed out that as the race is moving to West Virginia, a state Democrats may need in the fall. And the primary battle, he said, could confuse voters when Clinton makes the argument to voters they should cast their primary vote against Obama.
"To turn around and ask the very same people a few weeks later to reverse themselves and now vote for him on election day in a state you've got to carry as part of that electoral college map. I just don't see it," Dodd said.
Bayh put one caveat on how the race should continue: respectfully.
"As long as it is a respectable debate and doesn't become bitter or personal, I don't think this will be harmful for the Democratic party," Bayh said, speaking to party unity. "There are going to be some temporary hurt feelings. That happens in politics. That happens in life. But I think once people have a chance to take a deep breath, focus on the stakes of the election, compare our nominee to the other parties nominee, Democrats will come together."
UPDATE: Later in the day Dodd picked up the award for alliterative statement of the day when he predicted Sen. Clinton will bow out to avoid a "Donnybrook in Denver."
But he reiterated that the continued elections could confuse voters down the road.
"You go through a process where you ask somebody to vote against and 20 weeks later you ask them to vote for, that's a wrinkle in all of this. People are missing the point. Is my colleague likely to do anything that will damage the party? No. She will not allow herself to be an obstruction to a Democratic victory in November. That will not happen."
Dodd spoke at a press conference slamming President Bush for threatening to veto the House foreclosure prevention package, which proposes up to $300 billion to insure troubled mortgages and has the tacit backing of Ben Bernanke, Dodd was also asked about the Presidential election.
He said he has "Tremendous respect for her and her husband" and has faith that "At some point they'll make that right decision."
"There will not be a donnybrook in Denver," Dodd declared.
He said as a former candidate - though he did not reach the heights or the depths she has --"We should Giving her some space to deal with these issues is where we oughta be."
May 7, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (107)
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Do what the Demos always do - choose a candidate who will lose in the fall general election. Another typical Democratic presidential nominee.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | May 7, 2008 2:19:37 PM
"It should continue as long as it doesn't become bitter or personal..." Obviously Bayh doesn't read letters to the editor or blogs. Way too late to worry about civility NOW, Bayh!
Posted by: blog | May 7, 2008 2:26:16 PM
Vanessa - Why should we bet another uncertainty for 4 years, while we have seen what that means in the past 8 years? Why should one blindly rally around someone who has shown not a single original idea of domestic and foreign policies?
At least, one knows what you will get from McCain, who has shown time again to work with Demos. Do you want another 4 years of nothing getting done by the far left and far right and fillbustered congress in BO?
It's too bad that the Demos did it again, to shoot their own feet.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | May 7, 2008 2:35:27 PM
North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler is throwing his superdelegate endorsement to Clinton.
Posted by: Jack | May 7, 2008 2:36:13 PM
Olbermann3
the only times the dems lose is when they go for the "old party" candidate...
It's not about liberal or conservative...it's about who takes the party in a new direction...and who has just "paid their dues"...
there is enthusiasm with one...tiredness with the other.
Posted by: dl | May 7, 2008 2:40:19 PM
ted Kennedy...LOL! 1 more reason NOT to vote for Obama. My choice is Hillary, than McCain if he doesnt pick a right wing nut job...or I just won't vote. Alot of Democrats will not be voting for Obama...simple fact.
Posted by: MaxiDial | May 7, 2008 2:40:52 PM
true truth
Obama won despite being black not because of it. There are a heck of a lot more white women who wanted their first woman President as much as African Americans wanted the first African American.
Your argument is just sad that you don't understand that in this day and age.
Posted by: dl | May 7, 2008 2:42:47 PM
dl,
Maybe.
The only time dems did not lose was Clinton in the past 60 years.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | May 7, 2008 2:44:51 PM
Maxidial
That's fine is you choose McCain but when your daughter or niece or grandchild woner what happened and why roe vs. wade , the war went on, why she lives in a country still beholden to China and without affordable healthcare... and second to several nations in economic and educational opportunity and strength... and a land less safe because of our standing in the world.
You tell them you voted for McCain.
Posted by: dl | May 7, 2008 2:45:28 PM
I wouldn't rally around Obama if it meant we never had another president. If the Dems get stuck with him I will vote McCain and get as many other people as I can to do the same thing
Posted by: Vickie | May 7, 2008 2:47:03 PM
dl,
You are right in that a lot of younger, and whiter men and women voted for BO. When you ask them why you voted for BO? They tell you that they think he is "cool".
Cool?! Is that what you want as the quality from a pres candidate.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | May 7, 2008 2:48:29 PM
Whne your children are paying a Global Poverty Act tax imposed by the United Nations on the citizens of the USA, tell them you voted for Obama. Republican Party has a lot of work ahead of it, but the Democrat Party hasn't even begun to take a good look at itself and the devastation its policies have had on people. "I'm from teh government, and I'm here to help" lol
Posted by: Kitty | May 7, 2008 2:50:22 PM
Z,
The vote records are the fact how the voters voted based on the skin color or gender..
It is just the fact and nothing else. The question is how Obama can win over white votes and whether he can beat McCain by his own winning patterns..
Posted by: True Truth | May 7, 2008 2:56:47 PM
Hillary Clinton running a campaign that isn't bitter and personal? I'll believe it when I see it. If she can put down the kitchen sink and start running on her own merits, I say, "let her stay in as long as she wants."
Posted by: na | May 7, 2008 2:58:21 PM
Any Democrat who says if Clinton doesn't win then they are not voting of voting for McCain is an IDIOT. Their football team mentality is getting in the way of what's at stake for our nation. The last 8 years have been pure hell for some of us out here in the country so the petty and childishness makes people who say that look like complete fools to the rest of us. If Clinton was the nominee, and its obvious she won't be now, I'd hold my nose and vote for her because even the chance of a McCain presidency is appalling. Geez..electing someone who can't tell the difference between a shia and a sunni or doesn't know that the Soviet Union is defunct is just laughable....can we get any more dissed by the rest of the world than we have with Bush as pres? Well, elect that old phoney and you'll see we will.
Posted by: Suz in KS | May 7, 2008 2:59:04 PM
z
Please name a single original policy idea coming out of the mouth or brain of BO who has so inspired you, besides his feeling-good speeches.
Show a single record of accomplishment in the US senate due to he himself, not something handed to him by party elders.
Then, we'd be happy to consider of supporting him.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | May 7, 2008 3:01:24 PM
Vanessa - it's obvious as you have been a contributing member pro-Obama, that you are on his taskforce, and try to sway the blogs on his behalf.
Give it up.
I'm pro-Hillary and voting for McCain in the election.
Posted by: mel | May 7, 2008 3:03:21 PM
Suz in KS
I suppose your BO does not need those idiots votes.
Posted by: fat cat | May 7, 2008 3:03:51 PM
I am 55 female and Caucasian by birth and race and age and gender do not matter.
Young people realize that.
There should not be concerns about "color" of people nor should states be considered of different "colors."
It's just people/places & we're all the same under God.
Obama is at the right place and time in history.
Let's make America a place in the world to be proud of again.
Let's set an example.
Let's overcome bigotry and divisions, end wedge politics.
Now is our chance.
Let's end class politics - I am educated but did it on grants & scholarships. I own a house but couldn't buy one in today's dollars. My son is unemployed and has no insurance.
I am liberal but it's nothing new and that's not a bad word. It means I care about people. Is that bad?
I would be a latte drinker if I could afford it but the middle class is shrinking so class-division politics doesn't work any more.
We are all hurting under Bush and McCain would be more of the same.
Let's all get behind Obama.
Posted by: DiAnne | May 7, 2008 3:04:55 PM
What yesterday proved was that obama will not win in the GE. He loses amoung the working class, latinos, women who are not black. black people makeup only 11% of the population of the US so that is not a winning formula.
SC, NC, AL, TN, GA, MS and LA will all go red for republicans in the GE.
obama cannot win PA, OH, MO, MA, NJ or IN in the GE also.
So what state does he win Il and maybe D.C.
So be prepared to say President McCain for 2009.
Posted by: toby | May 7, 2008 3:10:15 PM
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