Huge Scoop From Al Giordano At The Field--40 Clinton SuperDs To Desert

[slinkerwink]

he Field has learned that Cardoza is the first of a group of at least 40 Clinton delegates, many of them from California, that through talking among themselves came to a joint decision that all of them would vote for Obama at the convention. They have informed Senator Clinton that it’s time to unite around Obama, and that they will be coming out, one or two at a time, and announcing their switch between now and the convention if Senator Clinton doesn’t do the same.

Cardoza is one of the leaders of this effort (which includes not only superdelegates, but here’s something that should set off some paranoia in Camp Clinton: there are pledged Clinton delegates in “The Cardoza 40,” too). One Field Hand reports that during a recent Cardoza fundraising event in California the effort was discussed openly in front of other Democrats. Cardoza’s announcement, today, sent the message that the effort is serious and for real.

This is not “excellent news for Hillary Clinton.”

Oh, and 40 leaving Clinton means that Obama gains 80 superdelegates because she loses one for every one he gains.

link: http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/

[BlooInBloo]

1. Obviously that's huge, if it's true - which is of course a live question until it happens.

[slinkerwink]

4. Al was right in his earlier tip about a California superdelegate about to desert--Cardoza

[roguevalley]

50. someone was wondering what had set her off from being united

minded into a tyro again and this could be it.

[BlooInBloo]

53. I heard the goin explanatioin for that was that she asked Obama to be VP, and he said no.

[damntexdem]

65. Don't pledged delegates have to vote their pledge on a first vote?

[writes3000]

2. No gloating from me. I just want to rally around Barack Obama, the nominee.

As for VP - I have my trust issues with HC but I trust Obama and team to make the best decision.

[Hutzpa]

3. Oh no....

Abandon ship!!!

<whistle>

[ej510]

5. Yes!!

[BlooInBloo]

11. Oh YEAH!!

And just by the way:
1) A google image search for just "oh yeah" doesn't necessarily turn up what you think it might
2) This is cool, in a dorky way: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/2070/PACKAGE.HTM

[Hutzpa]

63. Latte drinking, Prius driving lebruls

[me b zola]

45. I wonder what song is playing on the deck of the USS Clintanic

My apologies to Tom Petty:


~~Oh I won't drown now
no I won't drown now

no matter that the ship is going down
no I won't drown now...






:rofl:

[americanstranger]

6. Oh, ouch.

Good. The way the Clintons have run roughshod over the primary process, they deserve no less.

Let's hope it happens ASAP. We've got a general election to win here.

- as

[slinkerwink]

it's not about the Clintons...it's about the country.

[WA98296]

28. YES! And this needs to be expressed more.

[bunnies]

7. Ouch.

Thats gonna leave a mark.

[RichardRay]

If that were someone beside Giordano I'd instantly discount it...

but as it's him I'll wait to see if it has any legs. If true, and it has been openly communicated to the Clinton campaign, it puts even a more damning light on Senator Clinton's current behavior.

[gateley]

22. Self Delete - clicked on the link and answered my own question. nt

[AtomicKitten]

8. Now that is what inevitability looks like!

[nxylas]

9. I'll believe it when I see it

How many pending "superdelegate tsunamis" is this now?

[gateley]

20. I share your skepticism --

But if it's true, we won't have long to wait if "one or two at a time" will come out between now and the convention.

[Kittycat]

31. I don't think Obama will do any "Tsunamis" until after he has secured it.

'Officially' or at least until the primary is over. He has shown a consistent trickle, I think out of respect (more recent), and to keep the momentum going.

[Bigleaf]

10. The hammer is coming down if the Clintons keep up this charade.

It's over! Time to support our nominee.

[Tatiana]

12. I don't know if there are 40, but I've personally spoken to 12 that want to switch.

Pelosi is doing a good job with the Californians.

And folks, you haven't seen anything. These are just Super Dees. There is a large group of pledged delegates that will vote for Obama on the first ballot at the convention.

[slinkerwink]

15. I wonder if they're the early Clinton superdelegates? California seems to have buyer's remorse

in its latest poll.

[writes3000]

21. Wow, I love your scoop...

Al's article says the "40" include Clinton pledged delegates so it looks like he's in line with what you know.

[Tatiana]

61. The beautiful thing about this whole California turnaround is that it is completely organic.

It is also ironic. There was a time when Clinton threatened to go after Obama's pledged delegates. That ended a bit quickly, I suspect, because the Clinton campaign got wind of how many of their own pledged delegates wanted to jump ship (alternates included).

Of course, the Obama campaign strongly indicated that would NOT go after pledged delegates. So this thing that has been simmering all March in Cali is really threatening to surface now. California has been Obama's #1 fundraising state for some time now. Hillary may say she won the California primary, but the state is pretty much Obama country now.

[napi21]

39. I hear what you're saying about the pledged delegates, but I don't think

it's going to go to the convention for these decisions to be made public. I still happen to think Hillary would have made a great Prez, but it doesn't look like she's going to have the chance to do that. I believe there will be a decisive decision on June 4th or 5th, and life will go on.

Truthfully, I'd like to see Hillary be the Senate Majority Leader! The one thing you have to say about her is that she's sure not a whimp like we have now! We need a damn bulldog to lead the Senate!

[ieoeja]

54. Those pledged delegates better keep it secret.

Because a candidate can replace any of her elected delegates at any time prior to the convention if s/he feels they are disloyal.

[Tatiana]

59. They will not go public. But watch the totals at the convention.

The Clinton delegate total will be significantly lower than expected and Obama's will be much higher than has been reported.

As much is it seems otherwise, there are some Hillary supporters who are Democrats first and do not condone her actions of late.

[anonymous171]

13. Whoah. Important if true.

[PVnRT]

14. That's nice, but I'll not celebrate until they actually do it

[RichardRay]

16. The link doesn't go to that news. Where is it on his site? n/t

[slinkerwink]

17. right here

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1258#comments

[RichardRay]

30. Got it, thanks...

[Bigleaf]

24. Here:

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1258

[jefferson_dem]

18. Oh let it be so...

And if it is...let it happen ... NOW!

[totodeinhere]

19. I wonder why they don't just come out all at once now and get it over with.

[Kittycat]

23. I doubt Obama would let them do that in a bloc, unless he secures the nomination

I can see him saying okay to the 1-2 at a time, mentioned above. But I think he would be against a bloc endorsement in this manner, to keep from upsetting Clinton supporters. That is, until he secures the nomination at 2026.

[slinkerwink]

26. the bloc would have to come if Clinton contradicts his arguments against McCain

which will happen soon, I think.

[Kittycat]

32. Possibly - she's already running a Rove Campaign that borders being more republican than McCain.

If she keeps endorsing him or subliminally encouraging people to vote for him - then yeah. The ax will eventually come down. I still don't see that happening until after the primaries.

[Cant trust em]

34. I don't understand this mentality.

Wouldn't it be best for a mass SD flood to show that we're now uniting around the nominee? How much longer will we have to walk on eggshells to spare the Clintons?

[Kittycat]

38. Until the primaries are over - I think.

They're giving her time to find a graceful exit. Instead, she's digging her heals in. But honestly, at this point as much as I'd like to end all of this, we're so close to the finish line - let it run out.

[Cant trust em]

40. So June 3rd. After that then we should see some more movement.

I can give them that much time.

[WeDidIt]

43. They don't want such a huge personality in the party to be so humiliated

she won't ever be able to show her face again.

They are giving her space until June 3.

If she doesn't concede after that, the movement away from Hillary to Barack will be 20 or 30 delegates per day until she does so. At that point, she would become the biggest political joke in American history.

[Cant trust em]

51. "biggest political joke in American history"

Please, Hillary. Don't let that happen. Save yourself while you still can!

[WeDidIt]

36. I could see him having them do it in a block

If back channel discussion with teh R&BC committe start going South with the 13 Clinton endorsers taking a hard line, I can see this ahappening on May 30.

[totodeinhere]

37. Don't worry about upsetting Clinton supporters. They will be upset anyway. We need to get this...

over with the sooner the better so that we can get on with the general election campaign. Or it might just be too late.

I'm getting sick and tired of coddling Clinton supporters all the time. This is a campaign and in a campaign there are winners and losers. Edwards supports moved on when he withdrew. Clinton's supporters need to do the same and suck it up and get with the program if they want to see a Dem in the White House in 2009.

[malik flavors]

25. This is the same site that said Obama told Hillary no about the VP spot right?

Yea, would be nice, but can't say the source is too reliable after that.

[slinkerwink]

27. I think Al was right on that one---given Hillary's behavior in the past week

[gateley]

33. Good point --

she ratcheted it back up. Hmmmm.

[genna]

29. If it is true, we don't have to worry about all those post June 3rd election fears

The SD have given Clinton FAR TOO MUCH TIME to make her case and weaken Obama's look and feel. They should have figured out what HRC was cooking in terms of fuzzy math and race baiting prior to this.

[Greyskye]

35. Oh please...

[Joe the Revelator]

41. Judases

[quakerboy]

42. I will believe it when I see it

It would pretty well change the landscape, though. I just want the remaining uncommited delegates to pick a person. Any person, just decide already.

[wileedog]

44. I love how these rumors always involve nice round numbers

Its never "37 SDs plan to revolt!"

And if they really wanted to make a statement, why are they declaring one or two at a time? Why not drop the "40 Bomb" and really send a message?

[Yael]

56. They are trying to give her an out to save face

She is tone deaf to it.

Drip, drip, drip.

The entire nation can see the handwriting on the wall. Everyone but HRC and her inner circle.

[PoliticalAmazon]

46. If they really wanted to get this thing over, they would do it all at once. n/t

[tridim]

47. And Hillary's predicted response

"You know, today I lost 40 of my superdeligates to Obama, but this only proves that the opposite will happen in my favor any day now."

[underpants]

49. "Clearly these delegates are from a state that will not be in play in November"

or something like that

[DS1]

48. So, that's what happens when a whole team goes down in a plane crash

[Duke Newcombe]

52. That's my Dennis (Cardoza)...!

Just when I was about to blister his ass with a letter telling him to end this, this comes along.

I'm still preparing the letter, but let's hope it is unneeded.

Damned good Democrat. Pisses me off sometimes...but damned good.


Duke

[BlooInBloo]

55. UPDATE!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/23/144331/245/396/521343

Update <2008-5-23 15:13:11 by MLDB>: I was interrupted with kid duties as I rushed to get this news out. Some context...Rep. Dennis Cardoza was publicly on the record supporting Clinton. Here is his statement (via an Obama campaign release) explaining his switch:

"This is the most important election of my lifetime. While I continue to greatly respect and admire Senator Clinton and feel she has made history with her campaign, I believe that Senator Obama will inevitably be our party’s nominee for President. He has proven himself to be a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and inspirational leader and will take America in a new direction, which we desperately need.

"The Bush Administration has been a huge disappointment. Mr. McCain, while certainly an American hero, represents more of the same failed Bush policies.

"I am deeply concerned about the contentious primary campaign and controversy surrounding the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan – two states Democrats need to win in November. I will not support changing the rules in the fourth quarter of this contest through some convoluted DNC rules committee process. Yet, we must find a resolution to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates so these states’ voters are represented at the Convention. I believe we need to avoid this potentially divisive situation by uniting behind one nominee and bringing the party together immediately. Therefore, I have made the decision to support Senator Obama at the Democratic Convention in my role as a super delegate."

[Duke Newcombe]

57. Dennis: you da man! n/t

Duke

[progressoid]

58. Very Nice.

:)

[Beregond2]

60. Why don't they just do it all at once?

[Arugula Latte]

62. If true ...

F@#$in' A! :D

[Marie26]

64. Why wouldn't they just come out?

A wave of 40+ SDs would have a lot more effect than a slow dribble of 2-3 SD's a day.

[Scurrilous]

66. K & R

:thumbsup: