May 02, 2008
I'll Raise You A Half Dozen Dem Chairman
Following former DNC Chairman Joe Andrew's announcement yesterday that he would switch his allegiance to Barack Obama, the Hillary Clinton camp released this missive today:
May 2, 2008
Dear Fellow Democratic Party Member:
Democratic National Committee members work tirelessly to elect Democrats locally, and they serve as strong advocates for finding solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. As former DNC Chairs, we are proud to be leaders in a Party that seeks to alleviate the burden of limited access to health care, fix broken systems of public education, improve working conditions for middle-class men and women, and ensure America’s safety and security, at home and abroad.
Those of us who support Hillary Clinton for president do so with the knowledge that she, just like us, has dedicated her life to improving the standard of living for others, and she has worked to make our Party the strong force that it is today. Her values are our Party’s values. Her record of fiscal prudence is matched by her commitment to social responsibility. Her accomplishments in the area of strengthening America’s security are a matter of public record.
Hillary has run one of the most formidable campaigns in the history of our Party. Her wins this primary season are significant – Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas. Her base of support includes women, Hispanics, seniors, Catholics, middle and low income Americans, and rural, suburban and urban voters. That’s a formidable coalition tailor-made for victory in a November general election.
In fact, if the election were held today, Hillary would beat Senator McCain, but Senator Obama would lose to the presumptive GOP nominee. According to the most recent polls available, Hillary would beat McCain by a margin of 279 to 259 Electoral Votes. But McCain would beat Obama by a margin of 291 to 247 Electoral Votes.
In a hypothetical general election matchup with McCain, Clinton is winning handily (50%-41%) while Obama is statistically tied with McCain (46%-44%), according to the AP-Ipsos poll released Monday. In the days following the Pennsylvania primary, Gallup Poll Daily tracking showed Hillary pulling even with Senator Obama. As of Thursday, Hillary was ahead 49%-45%.
Hillary can win our Party’s nomination. She is neck and neck with her opponent in Indiana and North Carolina. Both states have sizeable voting blocs that resemble constituencies who supported Hillary by large margins in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other contests.
Years of job loss and the recent economic slowdown mean that most Indiana and North Carolina voters are more concerned about the economy than anything else. Hillary has consistently garnered the majority of support from voters who say the economy is the most important issue facing our country.
Hillary’s campaign is currently operating at full capacity in Guam, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.
As in states that have already voted, election official are expecting record turnouts. Pennsylvania registered more than 215,000 new voters ahead of its April 22 primary. More than 200,000 new voters have registered in Indiana since the start of the year. And in counties across North Carolina, registration numbers are double – or triple – what they were in 2004.
More than 30 million Americans have already cast a ballot in our Party’s nomination contest and millions more will go to the polls between now and June 3. The record numbers of Americans who are registering and coming out to vote reflect the excitement about our candidates and the strength that our nominee will have behind him or her in the fall. The primary process will make our nominee stronger and better prepared to take on John McCain. Our Party only gains from having more voters – including more new voters – all across our country.
We encourage you to continue to fully consider Hillary Clinton and the fact that she is qualified and accomplished. Too much is at stake for us not to consider deeply the choice we must make for our Party and our country.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Curtis
Former DNC Chairman (1977-1978)
Charles Manatt
Former DNC Chairman (1981-1985)
The Family of the late Ron Brown
Former DNC Chairman (1989-1993)
Mrs. Alma Brown, Michael Arrington Brown & Tracey Brown James
Debra DeLee
Former DNC Chair (1994-1995)
Don Fowler
Former DNC National Chairman (1995-1997)
Steve Grossman
Former DNC National Chairman (1997-1999)
Governor Edward Rendell
Former DNC General Chairman (1999-2001)
Terence McAuliffe
Former DNC Chairman (2001-2005)
Posted at 01:39 PM
Comments
Why are those with Y chromosomes called "chairman" and the one with two X chromosomes called "chair"?
And how does the family of the late Ron Brown count?
NaR | 05.02.08 02:11 PM
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This is a a pretty awesome list of Democratic Party chairs, chairmen, chairwomen, chairpersons... whatever.
Why get distracted over the small stuff?
Jan | 05.02.08 02:15 PM
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This isn't really newsworthy if these aren't new declarations.
Josh | 05.02.08 02:19 PM
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How tacky to bring in the late Ron Brown's family.
JP | 05.02.08 02:24 PM
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Apparently the Clintonistas were so rattled by Joe Andrew that they felt the need to roll out some kind of response. Par for the course. But the interesting thing is the wording. This statement doesn't even ask people to vote for Hillary -- it simply asks for her to be "fully considered." I'd bet those words were carefully negotiated, and that several of these signatories, even though preferring Hillary, know Obama will be the nominee.
TKD | 05.02.08 02:31 PM
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Umm? five of these chairs were basically appointed by President Clinton and the Brown family represents Ron Brown, who served in the Clinton cabinet. This is the ultimate non-story.
RP | 05.02.08 02:35 PM
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unless these people are superdelegates then this story doesn't mean a damned thing.
tony | 05.02.08 02:42 PM
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This is hardly news. There's not a new endorsement in the bunch. The Clintons are pathetic.
I love the "the Family of the late Ron Brown" endorsement. How about "the Cousin of Joe Andrew?"
Mark F | 05.02.08 02:43 PM
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Eight former chairs, and with their collective clout their candidate has a second place showing. Rather than promote the party interests and at least get their candidate to run a positive campaign, they continue to shill for an increasingly negative, pathetic campaign.
It's time for Hillary to go home and for these alleged Democrats to start behaving like Democrats and moving the Country forward, not downward into Hillary's slimy world.
DH | 05.02.08 02:50 PM
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"Her base of support includes women, Hispanics, seniors, Catholics, middle and low income Americans, and rural, suburban and urban voters. That’s a formidable coalition tailor-made for victory in a November general election."
One little omission in that 'formidable coalition'--African Americans. How does she propose to win without them? No Democratic President has since FDR, with the exception of the LBJ landslide of 1964 (of course blacks voted for LBJ that year, but he carried the white vote--the last Democrat to do so).
Steven J. Berke | 05.02.08 02:51 PM
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It's not news that Hillary has the machine behind her -- but isn't it time for a change in Washington? The old politics of division will not solve todays problems. Why take a politician when you can have a breakthrough leader?
Iris | 05.02.08 03:53 PM
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It's not news that Hillary has the machine behind her -- but isn't it time for a change in Washington? The old politics of division will not solve todays problems. Why take a politician when you can have a breakthrough leader?
Iris | 05.02.08 03:53 PM
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I think it is very mean to attack the family
of the late ron brown considering if it had not
been for him The Clintons would ,nt of made it in the white house.
On that note people can go to hell about bashing
the ron brown family.
Because we truly lost a great leader inspite of
rumors that Nolanda Hill made she should have made
them public when he was alive not when someone
dies and cannot defends himself.
I admire Mrs. Brown for her strenght and courage
My God continue to strengthen you and yoour family
Yours Truly
Sonya Gafford
Sonya | 06.11.08 06:11 PM
|
I think it is very mean to attack the family
of the late ron brown considering if it had not
been for him The Clintons would ,nt of made it in the white house.
On that note people can go to hell about bashing
the ron brown family.
Because we truly lost a great leader inspite of
rumors that Nolanda Hill made she should have made
them public when he was alive not when someone
dies and cannot defends himself.
I admire Mrs. Brown for her strenght and courage
My God continue to strengthen you and yoour family
Yours Truly
Sonya Gafford
Sonya | 06.11.08 06:12 PM
|
I think it is very mean to attack the family
of the late ron brown considering if it had not
been for him The Clintons would ,nt of made it in the white house.
On that note people can go to hell about bashing
the ron brown family.
Because we truly lost a great leader inspite of
rumors that Nolanda Hill made she should have made
them public when he was alive not when someone
dies and cannot defends himself.
I admire Mrs. Brown for her strenght and courage
My God continue to strengthen you and yoour family
Yours Truly
Sonya Gafford
Sonya | 06.11.08 06:12 PM
|
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