Old Clinton Ties and Voters’ Sway Tug at Delegates: 300 undecided Superdelegates are critical

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Old Clinton Ties and Voters’ Sway Tug at Delegates
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and FARHANA HOSSAIN
Published: February 17, 2008

WASHINGTON — The dwindling group of elected officials and party leaders publicly undecided in the Democratic presidential contest — about 300 out of the 795 so-called superdelegates who may determine the party’s nominee — includes at least 30 who have a long and often personal history with the Clinton family. But more than 100 of them are from states whose voters have spoken in primaries and caucuses and voted, often overwhelmingly, for Senator Barack Obama. And in a year where Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has drawn much of her strength from women, there are nearly twice as many men as women who remain undecided.

Even at a time when Mrs. Clinton is struggling to hold on to the superdelegates she has, both candidates view the remaining 300 delegates who have not taken sides as probably the most critical audience they are competing for in the months ahead. The campaigns provided an internal list of their superdelegate supporters to The New York Times that, combined with interviews with many of the superdelegates and campaign and party officials, drew a portrait of an electorate — particularly, the remaining undecided superdelegates — that in many ways marks the final contest of the nominating battle.

The candidates’ targets — an elite electorate — are in flux. The superdelegates face a set of political crosscurrents, especially since Mrs. Clinton has surrendered her early status as her party’s clear front-runner, and with it the pressure she could exert on her party’s leaders to get on board early with her. And they are in an unaccustomed position because neither Mrs. Clinton nor Mr. Obama is expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to claim the nomination before the end of the voting season, so they will need the support of superdelegates to get over the top....

***

This universe of undecided superdelegates includes 46 members of Congress who have received a total of $333,900 in contributions from a political action committee set up by Mr. Obama. Yet it also includes a handful of Democrats who have been reliable donors to Clinton campaigns, giving Mrs. Clinton’s aides some hope as they plow through a daily roster of telephone calls.

Mrs. Clinton’s list shows the extent to which she has benefited from being part of the first family of Democratic politics for more than 15 years. Her superdelegate base includes 12 senators, compared with eight for Mr. Obama, and 72 House members, compared with 62 for Mr. Obama. And she has the support of at least five former leaders of the Democratic National Committee, along with nearly 150 Democratic National Committee members, compared with 86 for Mr. Obama....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/us/politics/17delegates.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all

[DJ13]

1. For those up for reelection this year I imagine the coat tails of the nominee will be important

The Clintons have a history of not being of much help in getting Democratic candidates reelected in the 90's while Obama has proven himself in 2006 to be tireless in working for fellow Democrats up for reelection.

That will probably play a big part in the making up the minds of the remaining super delegates.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. and here's hoping the SD's make the right choice and support

the will of the voters. That's a lot of undecideds, and clearly they have been breaking Obama's way over the last couple of weeks.

[NMMatt]

3. The one's with strong Clinton ties have already sided with her

Loosing the election means that she's loosing the argument for the undecideds.