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New Dem Wave Cresting for Obama

March 31, 2008 10:10 AM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: When Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for President today, she buttressed his lead in a small but interesting subset of the already exclusive club of Democratic superdelegates: the Democratic New Wave.

Democrats retook the Senate in 2006 when they elected six new members and replaced a Democratic-leaning Independent from Vermont with another Democratic-leaning Independent from Connecticut. They lost a member in Joe Lieberman, but he still votes with them in all issues that don't have to do with the Iraq war and Indy Joe is supporting John McCain for President.

It may not be the largest sampling of lawmakers, but in the subsection of superdelegates, Sen. Obama has a lead over Sen. Clinton.

In fact, of the five new Senate Democrats that took office in 2004, only Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has endorsed Sen. Clinton. Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania have all backed Obama. McCaskill has been one of the most vocal supporters of Obama's campaign and Casey stumped through Pennsylvania last week with Obama. The all-important primary there is the next battle in the protracted Democratic nomination fight and Casey hit the trail with Obama even though polls show Sen. Clinton with a substantial lead in the Keystone State.

Democrats, under a road map drawn by Clinton supporter and New York Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer, made a point of recruiting moderate candidates in purple or even red states like Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It was part of a move back to a big tent sort of platform; McCaskill of Missouri opposes most Democrats where it comes to immigration. Casey of Pennsylvania is pro-life.

It is important to note that while Obama has a slight lead among New Democrats in the Senate, Clinton still has time to make up the deficit. While McCaskill is with Obama, the other poster boy for the New Democrats is Sen. Jim Webb, a former Republican and Reagan cabinet secretary. Webb may be necessarily uncommitted. He has been rumored as a possible running mate for either Clinton or Obama (Webb says he isn't interested in being Vice President). But Obama campaigned for Webb in 2006.

Liberal Democrat Sherrod Brown of Ohio and independent Bernie Sanders of Ohio also remain uncommitted, though as an independent Sanders is not a Democratic superdelegate.

In the House, another notable New Democrat, Rep. Heath Shuler, D-NC, is according to some media reports going to go with Obama, although those reports are unconfirmed. Shuler is notable because he comes from a conservative district and got elected only after distancing himself from Democrats on issues like immigration.

March 31, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (294)

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How many other SUB sections of superdelegates are there? In all the parts of this race that matter, Clinton can win. Let the voters of Pennsylvania and the rest of the primaries have their votes. Then let the Michigan and Florida votes count, or revote. In this election, that is what counts most for the success and continued life of the Democratic Party. If regular voters cannot have their votes, who in the h---cares about the votes of superdelegates!

Posted by: georgia | Mar 31, 2008 10:21:50 AM

I know this... if the votes in FL and MI are not allowed by the DNC then Barack Obama will NOT get our votes in November!

Posted by: OpusRooster | Mar 31, 2008 10:28:19 AM

As long as the media plays favorites.

The DNC playing GOD and screwing the people.

The super delegates playing Political fixer.

The Democratic Party loses.

If Obama is on the ticket, everyone is voting republican.

Shame they DNC are pushing voters away, and telling them the people do not matter.

A vote for America is a Vote against Obama

Posted by: seah | Mar 31, 2008 10:31:52 AM

Looks Like Obama is planning a Slow March to the Sea with an arrival date somewhere around the beginning of June.

There will be a new super delegate added each day to Obama's totals and the magic number will be eventually obtained.

Hillary's only hope will be to burn down her party to keep the nomination away from O.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Mar 31, 2008 10:34:51 AM

The biggest dilemma the Dems have is not the back and forth between Hillary and Obama, but not allowing Fla. and Michigan's votes to be counted. If that is not settled before the convention, all heck is going to break loose.Moreover, if these votes are not counted, Obama will never get my vote.

Posted by: Joan | Mar 31, 2008 10:38:22 AM

The entire process with this election should wake up Americans, along with all the crime and resigning going on at the Federal level! No media coverage or no open door at the White House for truth, fairness, or a true democracy being upheld. RALPH NADAR 08 for We THE PEOPLE, stop this unjustifiable, inside control. Obama, Clinton, and McCain are the current system, Nadar is for us, the people. Urging all to look at how to end this power in the White House.

Posted by: regionfive | Mar 31, 2008 10:45:31 AM

Although I am supporting Obama, I believe that the Democratic Party will emerge stronger by Clinton continuing the fight. The biggest weakness the Democrats have had is the lack of solid, forged, identity. I have accused them of being Demopublicans for years. Always taking a position just left of the Republicans. This is a fine strategy if you are angling to capture the moderate middle. When the Republicans went right so did the Democrats. All of a sudden the silent majority in the middle couldn't discriminate one party from the other. So, Hillary, keep up the fight all the way to the Convention. The fight will lead to a stronger and more meaningful platform for the Democrats to take forward.

Posted by: BooMan | Mar 31, 2008 10:47:12 AM

This is just more effort to try to force Hillary Clinton out of the campaign. Come on Pennsylvania voters move substantially for Hillary and get this back on track!

Posted by: raf | Mar 31, 2008 10:47:55 AM

You guys havent figured out yet that 90% of the news the liberal media pumps out daily is just more Obama brainwashing?

Cant people think objectively and understand what is really happening here?

Obama cannot and will not win the general election.

However, Pelosi, Kerry and Kenney cannot and will not accpet another Clinton administration. This is what this has always been about.

Posted by: tomdavie | Mar 31, 2008 10:48:51 AM

How can one stay loyal to a Party candidate when the candidates have not stayed loyal to the Party?

Posted by: regionfive | Mar 31, 2008 10:50:31 AM

tomdavie,

Obama will win the election in a landslide. The only brainwashing going on is that Clinton still has a chance at winning the nomination or that this is a close race.

What is a fact is that if a Clinton is on any ticket, its game over for the Democrats, we lose the Presidency, the House and the Senate. All this progress for nothing.

Posted by: Stephen | Mar 31, 2008 10:53:22 AM

What is it with Florida always screwing up our democracy? Where were these sobbing Floridians when the DNC told them if they decided to move up their primary that they'd be shut out of the convention? You folks should have fought the move up of the primary. C'mon, we need Florida Democrats to wake up and participate in the country's affairs. Get your head out of your *** Florida!

Posted by: madintheUSA | Mar 31, 2008 10:54:05 AM

madeintheUSA, the current system is screwing up America, not Flordia. Suggestion, don't vote for the current system, which is Rep and Dems, they are the current screw ups. Take a look at the alternative, Nadar just may win me over prior to Nov., God Bless USA

Posted by: regionfive | Mar 31, 2008 10:56:40 AM

What is the difference between Hilliary, McCain or Obama. Expansion of government: same. Continuation of war be it Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq or Iran: same. Global carbon tax: same. Bailouts of corporate criminals with no prosecution, while you can't file for bankruptcy: same. Government spying to find "homegrown terrorist" who own maps, read the constitution, or are "white al-Quaeda": same. Wake up folks, your fighting over which dictator gets to rule over you. What's all the fuss about. Either way you LOSE. So please, get off the chat rooms, go to work, save what money you can. And take care of your family. Because NONE of this media induced drivel has ANY effect on your life! The best thing you can do is turn off the tv, read a book, or educate yourself, as to what is going on in the world outside of private controlled, corporate, tax exempt media, military, industrial empires.

Posted by: cba | Mar 31, 2008 11:05:13 AM

It's all about the economy and the general election. Republicans will have a field day with Obama in Nov. if he gets the nomination. Wright, Rezko and Emil Jones are bad news for Obama. I can see the republicans coming already.

Posted by: ken | Mar 31, 2008 11:10:30 AM

regionfive, NADER is a spoiler, he is running for himself and will not get the attention of any media at this point in time, he is a masked republican and is for the republicans and want to put another republican in the White House after WBush, what a shame. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Mar 31, 2008 11:16:28 AM

I never would have thought that we are so stupid and naive - So many are being told Barak is the answer to everything - he is not - he is the beginning of trouble, he is a calm spoken radical who believes the crap that Rev Wright preaches day in and day out... His wife is an educated women who hates all non blacks..... Our government is in serious trouble if this guy gets the presidental nomination. He will run this country into the ground with his radical b.s--- We are all equal - everyone of us americans must demand the same oppourtines so as we will be equal.How many poor americans fight by education to get ahead, and how many poor americans don't bother to get out of the poor life? Each and every human being has to make a choice - daily choices and stand by their choices, should I be hindered because a person who is in the same situaction as me chooses to make a different choice and it leads to that person jail and me i am moving to the JR college.Get with it people we make our own mistakes and our own greatness.

Posted by: Cathy | Mar 31, 2008 11:21:16 AM

tomdavie is right. If Hillary gets the nomination then this nation will have a sea of disillusioned young and young at heart voters. These new voters are the new energized base for the Democratic Party and hopefully for a united America. Talk about throwing someone under the bus. And for what? So we can have the first women president? To satisfy the ego of Hillary and Bill? To prevent some backlash from donors? I don't buy Hillary’s electability argument and I believe most other people don't buy it either. I am a Republican who worked hundreds of hours for Barack Obama as an unpaid volunteer in Texas. We need to go further than no White America and Black American. We need no Republican and no Democratic America. Setting up the two party systems is the biggest hoax to divide a nation, to meet political agendas. I also feel that people see someone in Barack Obama so different from the typical sorry politician. They don’t want anything to scr*w this up, like cut-throat politics.

Posted by: Radmanaustin | Mar 31, 2008 11:23:42 AM

Georgia,
Everytime we approach a swing state which Obama clearly doesn't stand a chance in, Obama Zombies start raising a cry for Hillary to drop out. The Democratic elite, led by the senators from the two coasts clearly are aiding and abetting this situation.

I agree with you, let the voters vote and we will decide who is the victor, not the pundits, not the Beltway elite.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 31, 2008 11:25:45 AM

Georgia,
Why do you think Michigan and Florida should count? Just because you want Clinton to win even by fraud? Why did you not advocate that Michigan and Florida count before the start of the race? Only when Clinton is losing then you folks suddenly want Michigan and Florida to count badly!! Some of you really embarass Americans.

Posted by: kool | Mar 31, 2008 11:27:10 AM

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