10 Delegates to Go; Thank You, Maxine!
Barack Obama needs 10 more delegates to hit the magic number for the nomination!
AND, Maxine Waters switched her endorsement from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. Thank you, Maxine. This Californian appreciates the gesture toward party unity.
Sphere: Related ContentChicago, IL – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) endorsed Barack Obama for President. Waters switched her endorsement from Clinton to Obama citing his ability to unite the country and leadership on issues such as the housing crisis and war in Iraq.
Throughout this primary election, I have witnessed two extraordinary candidates champion the concerns that matter most to the American people. As an outspoken advocate on issues critical to women and children, I have great admiration for Senator Clinton and know first-hand her commitment to our country.
However, our nation is at crossroads. Now is the time for us to unite so that real change is possible in November. Today, I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama because I firmly believe that he embodies the judgment and conviction necessary to bring about change that will make a difference in the lives of all Americans.
On issue after issue, from ending the disastrous war in Iraq, to addressing the housing crisis to making healthcare affordable for every working family, Barack Obama offers bold leadership that will put our nation back on the right path after the eight years of failed policies of George W. Bush.
That is the choice we face in November, and that is why I am supporting Barack Obama for President.
Clinton’s letter to superdelegates
Tell me again that she’s vying for the vice presidency. Um…I don’t think so. I’ve bolded some of the specific reasons in the body of the letter that highlight the ambition and expectation that she will be the nominee. This letter was accompanied by Karl Rove’s charts and polls supporting her argument. Gosh, he’s everywhere lately.
Dear ___________,
The stakes in this election are so high: with two wars abroad, our economy in crisis here at home, and so many families struggling across America, the need for new leadership has never been greater.
At this point, we do not yet have a nominee – and when the last votes are cast on June 3, neither Senator Obama nor I will have secured the nomination. It will be up to automatic delegates like you to help choose our party’s nominee, and I would like to tell you why I believe I am the stronger candidate against Senator McCain and would be the best President and Commander in Chief.
Voters in every state have made it clear that they want to be heard and counted as part of this historic race. And as we reach the end of the primary season, more than 17 million people have supported me in my effort to become the Democratic nominee – more people than have ever voted for a potential nominee in the history of our party. In the past two weeks alone, record numbers of voters participated in the West Virginia and Kentucky primaries. And with 40 and 35 point margins of victory, it is clear that even when voters are repeatedly told this race is over, they’re not giving up on me – and I am not giving up on them either.
After seven years of feeling invisible to the Bush administration, Americans are seeking a President who is strong, experienced, and ready to take on our toughest challenges, from serving as Commander in Chief and ending the war in Iraq to turning our economy around. They want a President who shares their core beliefs about our country and its future and “gets” what they go through every day to care for their families, pay the bills and try to put something away for the future.
We simply cannot afford another four – or eight – years in the wilderness. That is why, everywhere I go, people come up to me, grip my hand or arm, and urge me to keep on running. That is why I continue in this race: because I believe I am best prepared to lead this country as President – and best prepared to put together a broad coalition of voters to break the lock Republicans have had on the electoral map and beat Senator McCain in November. (See, it’s not just about her base — it’s her strong belief that she, and only she, can lead this country. Message: Obama weak; me strong)
Recent polls and election results show a clear trend: I am ahead in states that have been critical to victory in the past two elections. From Ohio, to Pennsylvania, to West Virginia and beyond, the results of recent primaries in battleground states show that I have strong support from the regions and demographics Democrats need to take back the White House. I am also currently ahead of Senator McCain in Gallup national tracking polls, while Senator Obama is behind him. And nearly all independent analyses (This is not true. She handpicked her analyses) show that I am in a stronger position to win the Electoral College, primarily because I lead Senator McCain in Florida and Ohio. I’ve enclosed a detailed analysis of recent electoral and polling information, and I hope you will take some time to review it carefully.
In addition, when the primaries are finished, I expect to lead in the popular vote and in delegates earned through primaries. Ultimately, the point of our primary process is to pick ourstrongest nominee – the one who would be the best President and Commander in Chief, who has the greatest support from members of our party, and who is most likely to win in November. So I hope you will consider not just the strength of the coalition backing me, but also that more people will have cast their votes for me. (again with the popular vote lie…way to make your case, base it all on a lie).
I am in this race for them — for all the men and women I meet who wake up every day and work hard to make a difference for their families. People who deserve a shot at the American dream – the chance to save for college, a home and retirement; to afford quality health care for their families; to fill the gas tank and buy the groceries with a little left over each month.
I am in this race for all the women in their nineties who’ve told me they were born before women could vote, and they want to live to see a woman in the White House. For all the women who are energized for the first time, and voting for the first time. For the little girls – and little boys – whose parents lift them onto their shoulders at our rallies, and whisper in their ears, “See, you can be anything you want to be.” As the first woman ever to be in this position, I believe I have a responsibility to them. (and if you don’t give me this nomination, you’ll disappoint all the little old ladies and little girls and little boys…wah.)
Finally, I am in this race because I believe staying in this race will help unite the Democratic Party. I believe that if Senator Obama and I both make our case – and all Democrats have the chance to make their voices heard – everyone will be more likely to rally around the nominee.
In the end, I am committed to unifying this party. What Senator Obama and I share is so much greater than our differences; and no matter who wins this nomination, I will do everything I can to bring us together and move us forward.
But at this point, neither of us has crossed the finish line. (Actually, one will cross the finish line on 6/3, but not her) I hope that in the time remaining, you will think hard about which candidate has the best chance to lead our party to victory in November. I hope you will consider the results of the recent primaries and what they tell us about the mindset of voters in the key battleground states (hint: they won’t vote for a black guy). I hope you will think about the broad and winning coalition of voters (White women over 50, Appalachian voters and who else? Hispanics are moving in droves to Obama…) I have built.(Because yeah, Obama didn’t build a goddamn thing, it’s all about what SHE’S built. Gimme a break, and give Bush some credit too) And most important, I hope you will think about who is ready to stand on that stage with Senator McCain, (HRC code words arguing her ‘experience’) fight for the deepest principles of our party, and lead our country forward into this new century.
I’m telling you, she’ll take it to the convention, in which case Rachel Maddow will be absolutely 100-frickin’-percent right.
Sphere: Related ContentA Pickup of 40 Superdelegates?
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this rumor. It first surfaced out of the reports of the California State Convention last week, where the final delegates were chosen and a resolution for party unity was affirmed by the Obama and Clinton camps.
The 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.
This would end it, because it would result in a net 80-delegate spread, taking one out of Clinton’s column and adding one to Obama’s column. 40 will not give him the magic 2025, but I suspect it is the beginning of the superdelegates’ signal to Senator Clinton that Barack Obama is the choice for party nominee.
Cardoza’s endorsement also had a warning:
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.”
Yes, this is exactly what the superdelegates should be doing. The key, of course, is to do it in a way that allows South Dakota and Montana to have their say.
And in the meantime, let’s hope Senator Clinton takes a bit more care with her words. We know she thinks they’re “just words”, but words inflict pain as well as inspire.
Cardoza’s endorsement means game, set, match.
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