It’s been reported far and wide, but Baron Hill is off the fence and declared his support for Obama. In a more surprising move, however, former DNC chairman, Joe Andrew is switching his support from Clinton to Obama. Given how poorly the Clinton campaign reacted to Bill Richardson’s support for Obama, when he’d never promised to support Clinton, I can only imagine the conniptions they’ll have over an actual defector. But, Andrew’s logic is sound:
“I am convinced that the primary process has devolved to the point that it’s now bad for the Democratic Party,” Andrew said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
. . .
Bill Clinton appointed Andrew chairman of the DNC near the end of his presidency, and Andrew endorsed the former first lady last year on the day she declared her candidacy for the White House.Andrew said in his letter that he is switching his support because “a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain.”
“While I was hopeful that a long, contested primary season would invigorate our party, the polls show that the tone and temperature of the race is now hurting us,” Andrew wrote. “John McCain, without doing much of anything, is now competitive against both of our remaining candidates. We are doing his work for him and distracting Americans from the issues that really affect all of our lives.”
Indiana Superdelegates remaining on the fence at the moment are Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Brad Ellsworth (IN-08), and, I think, Pete Visclosky (IN-01).
Doug, I’m rather frustrated to see the slow pace of the campaigning done by Obama in Indiana. He seems to be spending Friday again in NC. Does he think that it’s too close down there? His wife should be here at least. I am worried that we won’t even keep it close here at this rate.
SIGH– maybe I’m just nervous.
I’m just speculating, but it could be that Obama sees a better delegate-to-time-spent ratio in North Carolina than in Indiana. In Indiana, the delegate split seems just about guaranteed to be 50/50 regardless of who gets more votes, and neither candidate seems likely to move the needle very far in either direction regardless.
In North Carolina, it might be that a 10+ margin gets Obama a few more delegates than less than 10 would. . . or something like that.
I would think the Andrew switch could be huge as a sign to other superdelegates (and the media, which insists on treating this as a still-competitive race). Given the well-known vindictiveness by the Clintons toward the defections of those they think owe them loyalty (fealty is more like it), this is a pretty clear statement by Andrew that Hillary has basically no chance to win the nomination.
The 8th district in my opinion will go for Clinton.Brad Ellsworth at a fund raiser in town a few weeks ago stated he would put his support behind which ever candidate wins his district however politicians have been known to change their minds.I was over through Orleans,Paoli and Jasper yesterday in Baron Hills congressional district many,many Clinton lawn signs very few Obama signs and being a close district voting wise between Hill and Sodrel I suspect Hills endorsement of Obama could hurt him in his district this Fall.These two go at each other pretty rough every two yrs.Obama as I stated here a while back would be and has been hurt by the Wright fiasco especially in these rural areas.I guess we’ll see next week.
In Tell City, I have seen a few Obama signs and no Clinton yard signs. There are a couple of large hand-pained Hillary signs of a type that usually come out of the county party itself.
Hoosiers!
Time is of the essence, we need to stop the madness.
Democrats need to UNITE and the candidate will be BARACK OBAMA.
Hillary is the Politics of Old and will say ANYTHING to get elected.
BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
YES WE CAN!
I have to disagree about the race being bad for the party. If Joe Andrew wants to make a break with the Party’s bad habits of the past, perhaps he could propose doing away with superdelagates.
If Obama can’t put Rev. Wright solidly in the past, he will not be as viable a candidate as some may hope. I have heard many express a switch to Hillary because of the Reverand.
The latest polls from NC show a decreasing lead for Obama. Perhaps if he is indeed spending more time there than Indiana, it is that he can’t afford to lose NC while Indiana has lower expectations for him.