Posted on 04/30/2008 9:16:55 AM PDT by The_Republican
Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton.
While more than 80 Democrats in the House and Senate have yet to state their preferences in the race for the Democratic nomination, sources said Tuesday that most of them have already made up their minds and have told the campaigns where they stand.
“The majority of superdelegates I’ve talked to are committed, but it is a matter of timing,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). “They’re just preferring to make their decision public after the primaries are over. ... They would like someone else to act for them before they talk about it in the cold light of day.”
Obama currently holds an 18-13 lead among committed superdelegates in the Senate, while Clinton holds a 77-74 lead in the House. Asked which way the committed-but-unannounced superdelegates are leaning, McCaskill — who has endorsed Obama — said: “James Brown would say, ‘I Feel Good.’”
Not so fast, said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.
“Considering the rough patch Sen. Obama is going through, it’s understandable that Sen. McCaskill would want to change the subject, but her observations don’t jibe with what automatic delegates are actually saying,” he said. “Most are concerned about Sen. Obama’s electability and are impressed by the fact that Sen. Clinton is winning the states that Democrats must carry if we are to be successful in November.”
Still, supporters of both Clinton and Obama say that the lobbying for congressional superdelegates seems to have decreased in recent weeks.
McCaskill said that the campaigns have all but given up on lobbying her Senate colleagues because they know their minds are made up.
Clinton backer Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) acknowledged that the lobbying is no longer as aggressive as it once was. “I think there’s a different touch now,” he said. “We’re staying engaged. Right now, it’s about making sure everyone still feels loved and wanted.”
Montana Sen. Jon Tester — one of the Democrats who has yet to commit publicly — said the campaigns “haven’t applied much pressure” of late. “I haven’t heard much, and it’s been a few weeks,” he said.
“All the low-hanging fruit has already been picked,” said one Democratic Senate aide. “The rest are waiting to see who the winner is or are doing what’s in their best interests. Most of the people that are remaining just don’t want to pick the wrong side.”
Uncommitted superdelegates have many reasons for waiting to announce their support publicly, but chief among them is a desire to preserve their options should their favored candidate suddenly tank.
Some of the uncommitted superdelegates are in tenuous electoral situations themselves, and they fear that they might lose a reelection fight if they miscalculate the presidential race. Still, these delegates follow the contest with the same enthusiasm of committed delegates, and they want to let their chosen campaigns know of their support. They will often place a courtesy call to the opposing campaign, a move that helps preserve a relationship while also ensuring that they won’t be lobbied further.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Tuesday that he plans to remain uncommitted because of the fight to seat the Michigan delegates. He insisted that he’s still trying to decide who has “the best chance of winning” in November and that he honestly doesn’t know the answer yet.
Three weeks before his state votes in its primary, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said he will remain on the sidelines in order to convince the candidates to take a harder look at his health care proposal.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) is also uncommitted. He said that he has received numerous letters criticizing his neutrality but that he and other House Democratic leaders decided early on to avoid taking sides in the potentially divisive contest.
“I’m doing what I think is in the best interest of the caucus,” he said.
Clyburn spoke to Politico just before Obama held a press conference Tuesday in which he repudiated comments his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, made earlier this week. Clyburn did not downplay the dilemma the Wright episode has posed for Obama, but he said the candidate was “capable of meeting it.”
“Rev. Wright ought to be providing shoulders to stand on,” Clyburn said, “not be a part of any kneecapping operation that is taking place.”
I can only pray to God. But I think this is it for the Clinton machine-finally. VERY seldom has a person ran a second time and got the nod-but of course, it all would depend on whether or not the dem field was as weak then as it was this time around. It almost seemed like the entire race for the nomination was being set up for them.
I can think of Adli Stvenson and Nixon.
****All the low-hanging fruit has already been picked,” said one Democratic Senate aide****
A better metaphor would be, “The bottom of the barrel has been reached.”
How about Hubert Humphery? I know it hasn’t been very many.
Ronald Reagan narrowly lost the Republican nomination in 1976 to Gerald Ford and, of course, went on to win the nomination and the Presidency in 1980. Let's hope Hillary doesn't follow Reagan's path to the Presidency.
Your killin’ me! LoL
******KEEP FIGHTING HILLARY****
Is that a directive for voters to beat the beast?
Or are you rooting for her to win in November?
I’m Confuscioused.
You missed the point or I wasn’t clear....I believe the media is trying to convince the public et all that its over...obama has won the nomination. I don’t believe it and the more she fights, the more CHAOS ensues. I encourage this to all the way to the convention.
Times have changed since then. I can’t believe that the Dems would even consider Adlai Stevenson for a 2nd run in today’s climate. Same for the Republicans re: Nixon.
Humphrey only ran once.
Good points and questions.Gotta think the fear of the Clintons will be over.
4 more years is an eternity and ya know that would only mean 4 more years of tawdry tales and truths coming out all around about Bill& Hill.
Hillary is Quetzalcoatl.
And here I thought she was just the Antichrist.
:)
Sans a HRC surrender this issue will not be decided until late August.
“Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton’
If the majority of the Dims in our current government support an Anti-American Marxist for President we the people are much much further down the road to losing our country than most will admit. We have nearly lost control of our Federal government.
I have learned NEVER to bet against Klintons. I think the current Dean-Plan is to settle it WITHOUT FL and MI delegates.
Maybe Klintons would sue DNC. Its possible.
Well rebelYellin’ DrDean is on record as insisting Fl & Mi be included, but he will probably take BHO’s angle that they split Mi’s delegates 50/50 & reduce both delegations by 50% cutting HRC’s net to +15 or 20.
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