Two of Clinton’s California supers say they would reconsider their support...

[Hope And Change]

California superdelegates' wavering bodes ill for Hillary Clinton


Some who have supported her say they'll switch to Barack Obama if she doesn't make big gains in the remaining Democratic primaries.

By Scott Martelle, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 5, 2008

FRESNO -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, stung last week by the defection of a prominent superdelegate, could lose the backing of more of these Democratic Party leaders and elected officials if she fails to make significant gains in the remaining month of presidential nominating contests, several California superdelegates said this weekend.

Two of the five superdelegates aligned with Clinton who spoke at the annual California Democratic Convention here said they would reconsider their support if rival Barack Obama maintained his lead in elected delegates and the popular vote after the last contests on June 3.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-supers5-2008may05,0,4564727.story

[babylonsister]

1. I imagine many SDs are thinking this way. nt

[WeDidIt]

2. The fix is already in with the R&BC

and they know it.

By seating Michigan as-is, she'll calim she has the popular vote lead.

[rocktivity]

4. Seating FL and MI as is would be a death sentence for Dean

and by extension, the progressive end of the party. That's why it's not going to happen.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Triana]

11. I'd think that would be all the more reason it would happen...

...Hillary being as DLC (ie: Repub) as she is.

I hope Dean doesn't cave to her pandering and threats - or to that of her supporters on the R & BC.

[rocktivity]

12. It won't happen unless Dean allows it to happen

If he does end up with his throat cut, it will be by the DLC's hand, not his own.

:headbang:
rocknation

[MaineDem]

6. But remember, there is no such thing as a popular vote count

It's impossible to tally. It does not exist.

We have to keep making that point.

[Veruca Salt]

19. Is it correct that our votes would not count?

If the popular vote argument is attempted; as Maine is a caucus.

[MaineDem]

28. Popular vote cannot count

First of all, there's nothing in Party Rules to even consider popular vote.

And, yes, states like Maine have no popular vote count to count so it would be impossible to include them. Any call for popular vote to be used is pie-in-the-sky.

[Triana]

10. Hillary will accept NO scenario with MI and FL that doesn't give HER the lead...

...no matter HOW unfair, unconstitutional (MI), or utterly hypocritical.

THIS WOMAN APPROVED of the plan to NOT seat MI and FL delegates and NOW she wants to change that. OBAMA isn't leading the charge to change it. Hillary is. Why? Because Hillary has been LOSING and she can't accept that.

[rocktivity]

3. No big whoop--all Hillary has to do is get at least 65% of the vote

in ALL NINE of the remaining contests. That would cut Obama's pledged delegate lead to 1.5%, which would allow her to plead an electability case to the superdelegates with modicum of credibility.

:headbang:
rocknation

[catgirl]

5. It's about time (nt)

[MaineDem]

7. I'm pretty sure Shay is on the Rules & Bylaws Committee. n/t

[powergirl]

8. Notice there are ZERO reports of Obama SDs switching or thinking about switching

zip, zero, nada :bounce:

[cascadiance]

15. And you know "legitimizing" FL and MI might cause even MORE SD's to defect to Obama!

If they perceive that the Democratic Party will get hammered by the voters saying that their "nominated" candidate was nominted by fiat and popular vote and lose big time to McCain in the fall, they might in fact use the super delegate block power to CORRECT this miscarriage of the rules set for the states if somehow Hillary's able to force this through. That way, it will show that the Democratic Party is able to correct these "power quests" and still put forth the candidate that the people have actually voted for!

I still suspect that most of the uncommitted delegates are leaning to Obama, and are waiting until the "insurmountable" pledged delegate lead point of the race to commit to Obama (if their state voted for Clinton) as the national vote count will then legitimize their vote. That's kind of what these SD's in California are implicitly saying. If Obama gets to the point where he can say there is NO way, unrealistic or no, for her to catch up with the pledged delegate count of legitimate state races, then they will commit to him.

[rocktivity]

16. If Obama wins NC and gets at least 40% of IN tomorrow

I think the trickle of SDs who have been coming out for Obama will turn into a steady stream. He needs only 134 more pledged delegates to make it impossible for Hillary to surpass him. By the May 31 date of the meeting, don't be surprised if Obama has the full 2025.

:headbang:
rocknation

[MindMatter]

23. He will definitely be over the top in pledged delegates

by then because there will only be 86 pledged delegates left to assign, mostly from PR.

If he doesn't have the 2024 by then, he will be so close that it will be academic.

[Czolgosz]

9. I never hear Obama super delegates talking about switching. HIllary seems to lose super delegates

like a snake shedding its skin.

[powergirl]

20. I like the snake analogy

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS She's out of delegates. She can't get there. But we will hear some whiney argument about astrological predictors, etc. etc. :)

[Hope And Change]

13. Kick!

[TragedyandHope]

14. A good sign

"Significant gains" are out of the question.

[cliffordu]

17. K and R

[Neshanic]

18. Get them a new Bong, and they will fall into line.

[TheDudeAbides]

21. Remember: any super can change their mind up to the convention

A "commitment" means nothing; they can change their minds at any time.

[cascadiance]

24. And remember also, that most super delegates are elected officials too...

... and they won't want to be subverting democratic process (especially in the Democratic Party) to overturn what what the people have voiced as their choice.

There will be a few that still play the political games, but I think most will realize that the political gamesmanship to get into bed with the Clintons will work against them later at the election booth, and maybe if Obama takes power too. Obama might not look too kindly if super delegates go against both their state and the national votes to vote against an incoming Obama administration. Would probably make any cabinet positions a no go in that case.

[TheDudeAbides]

26. only way it could happen is if

the public loses confidence in the winning candidate.

that's what the supers are there for. They are the safety; there to save the party from
late breaking information that renders the winning candidate a loser in the general election.

[Texas Hill Country]

22. well, duh... this is well covered ground.

[Hope And Change]

25. Kick!

[Hope And Change]

27. Kick!