May 07, 2008
Obama Camp To Super Ds: Time To Decide
A day after Barack Obama won big in North Carolina and lost narrowly in Indiana, his campaign manager and several top backers held a conference call to urge superdelegates to pick sides and end the protracted nomination fight
On the call led by Campaign Manager David Plouffe, were Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Govs. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) and Deval Patrick (D-MA).
Plouffe said Obama has a pledged delegate lead of 172, the largest it's been in the campaign, and that he was now within 172 delegates of winning the nomination.
"It's a high-water mark," Plouffe said. "There's only 217 pledged delegates left. We're only 33 pledged delegates from achieving a majority of the pledged delegates. That will happen on the night of May 20th, which we think will be an incredibly important moment in the campaign when Sen. Obama clinches the majority of the delegates, which is the expression of the will of the voters in these contests."
Plouffe said the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue had received more media attention than Hillary Clinton last week and that even at the height of that controversy, Obama led the New York senator in superdelegate endorsements 2-to-1.
"We can see the finish line," Plouffe said.
Napolitano said it is time for superdelegates to step up: "It is now time for the superdelegates to begin bringing this process to a close and announcing their preference."
Kerry said Obama beat expectations. "The very tight finish in Indiana and his huge win in North Carolina have fundamentally changed this race," he said. "The bottom line: he clearly did more than he had to, and she did not achieve what she had to. You know, Barack was expected by all accounts to lose Indiana by a sizable margin, and she had the support of the biggest political name and family in the state who put everything on the line, and despite the toughest weeks of his campaign and the most thorough testing that you could have imagined with not the ideal dynamics going into either of these primaries, he beat every poll, and he beat every single expectation."
The Massachusetts senator said he believed Obama would have won in Indiana if Republicans had not voted for Clinton at the urging of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.
On Florida and Michigan
Plouffe said he hoped to reach a resolution that both sides could agree on regarding the seating of Michigan and Florida delegates but that "It's just not gonna happen that Michigan and Florida will be used in some way to overturn the results of these other primaries and caucuses."
Kerry said he thought the matter would be resolved before the convention. "I do not believe that we are going to be going to Denver with credentials fights or with a lack of resolution. I am convinced that over the course of the next weeks, the superdelegates are gonna exercise their judgment and responsibility," he said. "Ultimately I think that the superdelegates will render the issue of Michigan and Florida moot."
On unity
Plouffe and Obama's supporters, repeating what has become a mantra in both candidate's camps, said the party would come together to win the general election, with Kerry focusing on the long period of time between June and November.
Patrick and Klobuchar said Obama had down-ticket appeal that could help Democrats running for Congress, Klobuchar said he done well by connecting with middle class voters in last night's contests and McCaskill noted the senator's strength with independent voters and his improved showing with groups like Catholics, white women and union households and said he had done well because voters trusted him.
The Missouri senator said in response to a question that no one would be calling for Clinton to bow out, a sentiment echoed by Napolitano and Klobuchar.
(NBC/NJ's ATHENA JONES)
Posted at 12:56 PM
Comments
I think Hillary should do the right thing and bow out. It is time so that the democratic party can unite and present one candidate.She is living in a dream world and cannot win.I have not always been an Obama supporter. I changed my mind when I saw how he handled the Wright issue and after speaking to a young man going back to Iraq this past week. Obama is the man to unite this country and Hillary needs to step aside.
Maria Kirchner | 05.07.08 02:26 PM
 |
I think Hillary should do the right thing and bow out. It is time so that the democratic party can unite and present one candidate.She is living in a dream world and cannot win.I have not always been an Obama supporter. I changed my mind when I saw how he handled the Wright issue and after speaking to a young man going back to Iraq this past week. Obama is the man to unite this country and Hillary needs to step aside.If she does not bow out then the superdelegates need to act NOW!
Maria Kirchner | 05.07.08 02:29 PM
|
I think Hillary should do the right thing and bow out. It is time so that the democratic party can unite and present one candidate.She is living in a dream world and cannot win.I have not always been an Obama supporter. I changed my mind when I saw how he handled the Wright issue and after speaking to a young man going back to Iraq this past week. Obama is the man to unite this country and Hillary needs to step aside.If she does not bow out then the superdelegates need to act NOW!
Maria Kirchner | 05.07.08 02:30 PM
|
I think Hillary should do the right thing and bow out. It is time so that the democratic party can unite and present one candidate.She is living in a dream world and cannot win.I have not always been an Obama supporter. I changed my mind when I saw how he handled the Wright issue and after speaking to a young man going back to Iraq this past week. Obama is the man to unite this country and Hillary needs to step aside.If she does not bow out then the superdelegates need to act NOW!
Maria Kirchner | 05.07.08 02:31 PM
|
I think Hillary should do the right thing and bow out. It is time so that the democratic party can unite and present one candidate.She is living in a dream world and cannot win.I have not always been an Obama supporter. I changed my mind when I saw how he handled the Wright issue and after speaking to a young man going back to Iraq this past week. Obama is the man to unite this country and Hillary needs to step aside.If she does not bow out then the superdelegates need to act NOW!
Maria Kirchner | 05.07.08 02:31 PM
|
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
