Posted on 04/10/2008 7:47:25 PM PDT by mdittmar
LOS ANGELES—Facing a backlash from supporters, Barack Obama's campaign reversed course Thursday and reinstated hundreds of people to lists of prospective California delegates for the Democratic National Convention.
The campaign's decision this week to block approximately 900 people from trying win seats to the convention as Obama delegates set off a deluge of criticism that reached Web sites, newspaper headlines and party offices, shaking a campaign known for galvanizing the party's grass roots.
Campaign manager David Plouffe said in a letter to potential delegates that all names would be restored to ballots that will be used Sunday to elect delegates, overturning the earlier decision. The letter made no reference to the complaints.
"We are confident that delegates elected from this pool will reflect the senator's commitment to a diverse and unified delegation at the national convention," Plouffe said.
"An overwhelming number of supporters have signed up to run for delegate, so there will likely be lines and tight space at the caucus locations. We ask for everyone's patience and cooperation," he said.
California Democratic Chairman Art Torres said in a statement, "I had asked the Obama campaign to reconsider their official list of delegate candidates. I applaud their decision to do just that."
Earlier this week, the Democratic presidential campaigns took advantage of party rules to purge a raft of potential delegates in a bid to ensure that only their loyalists travel to the August convention where the party will anoint a presidential nominee.
Most of the cuts—about 900 names—were dropped by Obama, leading supporters to complain that they had been unfairly excluded. Clinton's campaign dropped about 50 names from its list of prospective delegates.
The names were culled without explanation from the campaign or the state party, leading to a guessing game over why some people were ousted.
Party caucuses scheduled for Sunday will elect a slate of delegates for each candidate. More than 2,000 candidates are running statewide.
Driven by fears that some prospective delegates might be concealing their true allegiances, the campaigns searched campaign finance data, scoured the Internet and made telephone calls to weed out people they believed to be dubious candidates.
More than 4,000 delegates from across the country will travel to Denver in August for the Democratic National Convention, where the nominee will be chosen. Slots for 241 delegates divvied up in California's Feb. 5 presidential primary—134 for Clinton and 107 for Obama—will be awarded Sunday.
Some said the notion of Trojan Horse delegates lurking on the ballot might be overstated.
Obama's decision to cut hundreds of names left many supporters soured.
"It's just poorly handled and it's giving people pause to think and reevaluate is this the way he will handle other situations," blogger Reny Monk said earlier Thursday, after learning she was cut from the list of Obama delegate candidates in the 30th Congressional District.
After learning the decision was overturned, she said, "I think they had no other choice at this point, given the discord."
The Clinton campaign declined comment Thursday, leaving unclear if it would adjust its delegate lists.
Based on barry Marxist beliefs, there will be other purges...
Is this related to the billionaires row party he had in San Francisco? (Zombie has the coverage)
OMG
Geez and they want to elect him as CIC and he messes little things like this up all of the time?
yitbos
He probably tried to eliminate all the “typical white people”.
Rush claims to have secret Chaos operatives selected as delegates from Texas. Perhaps Obama is afraid of Operation Chaos infiltration of the California delegate pool.
Not possible.
First, we're Republicans; second, we left the state 25 years ago. <|:-D
LOL! Thanks.
This man is just bizarre
They can’t govern themselves! It’s a quaqmire!
This is going to lead to disenfranchised voters.
And loyalty oaths.
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