SO....Robert Byrd has endorsed Obama. Why Now? Why not before the WV primary

[Perky]

Every Super delegate counts but jeesh.

[Occam Bandage]

1. He said he didn't want to interfere with the process.

An honorable answer.

[Ian David]

2. He was taking a nap. n/t

[Mooney]

5. LOL

[babylonsister]

3. He felt like he had to declare because "...the stakes this November could not be higher."

He said he has "no intention of involving myself in the Democratic campaign for President in the midst of West Virginia's primary election. But the stakes this November could not be higher."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6028515

[knowledgeispwr]

4. Because it would have had minimized impact after Clinton walloped him.

Obama was going to lose WV by large margins with or without Byrd's endorsement. I don't believe his endorsement would have closed the gap to make much of a difference. By endorsing afterward, his impact is not minimized.

[atufal1c]

10. That's my take. NT.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Senator Byrd has practice of not endorsing a presidential candidate during the primaries.

The VW primary is water over the dam. Senator Byrd's endorsement now is not a small thing, and may well help Barack Obama in November.

[dubyaD40web]

7. Here's the Chicago Sun Times headline:

Sen. Robert Byrd, ex-Klansman, backs Barack Obama

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/957762,byrd051908.article


Did they really have to throw that in there?

[PBS Poll-435]

8. Yeah. If he had endorsed Clinton....

That is ALL you would have heard around this place.

Believe it.

[tritsofme]

11. Its a very prominent piece of his biography.

It would be irresponsible not too add it.

And besides, I don't think the Sun Times is an anti-Obama paper.

[anigbrowl]

12. It's a fact, and one GOPers often use to make a dig at the Democratic party

Byrd, as the oldest member of the senate, carries a lot of historical baggage. In some ways he represents the past, and in others he represents America's ability to grow and change. He serves as a good example of how times change and how people change as they acquire wisdom.

[Yael]

15. I think that is a good thing. It makes a more powerful statement.

[anigbrowl]

9. Before, they would have writen it off

the voters of WV that is. I don't think it would have made a difference in their outcome. Doing it now tells West Virginians who voted because of prejudice that they did wrong. Please note I am not saying the result was wrong, but quite a few voters in that state made it clear that they were simply unwilling to vote for 'the colored'.

Now that the back-slapping mood has faded, Byrd has given them something else to think about.

[theboss]

13. Byrd is never going to let his power be questioned a al Kennedy

Kennedy endorsed Obama. Obama got hammered in Massachusetts. And everyone asked, "Where is Kennedy's influence?"

Byrd never allows anyone to question him like that.

[stray cat]

14. He might have wanted his constituents to place their votes first

and make their own decision. Also, if he endorsed and it failed to impact WV he would have looked weaker.

[Lasher]

16. He said as much.

He said he didn't want to influence the WV Primary.

[book_worm]

17. He didn't want his choice to influence anybody elses?