This is the Presidential Campaign Thread.

Barack Obama Vs. John McCain.

Edited November 6, 200817 yr by Toups

From MSNBC:

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro

The Obama campaign announced two more superdelegate endorsements -- Laurie Weahkee, a New Mexico add-on, and Rep. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. This is Obama's fifth pick up today. (The campaign also announced CA DNC Member Vernon Watkins, but we did not add him into our count, because he was already on our list.)

So far today, it's a net of Obama 7-0.

OBAMA (7): Weahkee, Hirono, Wilmer Lee Jeffcoat, Edward Espinoza, NC DNC Member John Gage, Reps. Donald Payne of NJ and Peter DeFazio of Oregon (+7).

Clinton (0): Rep. Chris Carney of PA (+1), but she lost lost Payne (-1).

The NBC delegate counts:

PLEDGED: Obama 1,590, Clinton 1,426

SUPERS: Clinton 273.5, Obama 269

TOTAL: Obama 1,859, Clinton 1,699.5.

* There are 252.5 undeclared superdelegates (about 50 of which are not named yet).

* Since the Indiana and North Carolina primaries on Tuesday, it's a net of Obama 13-1 in superdelegates.

* Obama has picked up 99 since Super Tuesday to Clinton's 13.5.

* Obama is 166 away from the magic number of 2,025.

Yep. They look like they are rushing to her today.

From CNN's MB:

After further review,Texas May 9th, 2008 2:50 pm ET

Is she telling about her moonshine making ability and huntin deer from the back of a pickup truck?

Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement

By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press Writer

Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.

In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

"I'm gratified that we've got some superdelegates who are coming our way. And I think we've got a strong case to make that I will be a nominee that can pull the party together and take on John McCain. Our focus has always been on the pledged delegates and just getting the American people to vote for us. And we think that ultimately that should be the strongest measure of who's the nominee," Obama told reporters in Woodburn, Ore.

Clinton also gained a superdelegate.

The developments left the former first lady with 271.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.

Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.

In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but "I think it's very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that's the reality of what she's faced with. She knows that. ... It's just very hard to see how the math works."

In addition to Payne, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, two members of the Democratic National Committee from California and a party official in South Carolina announced they were supporting Obama. Superdelegates from New Mexico and Virginia also joined the migration.

So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," he said in a statement.

"The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," said Vernon Watkins, one of the two Californians.

"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard.

Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way.

In the overall race for the nomination, Obama leads with 1,859.5 delegates, to 1,697 for Clinton. Obama is just 165.5 delegates short of the 2,025 delegates needed to win it.

Clinton's new supporter was Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.

Despite Watkins' assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080509/ap_on_...7WlYnZepf9h24cA

But, at least she's surrounded by white folks.

Pat Buchanan is loving her right now.

The problem for the super delegates who aren't from areas that voted for her, is her mouth. She's made it harder for them to support her without seeming to condone her divisiveness. It's kind of hard to justify backing a candidate who shows she's more regressive than progressive.

Pat Buchanan is loving her right now.

The problem for the super delegates who aren't from areas that voted for her, is her mouth. She's made it harder for them to support her without seeming to condone her divisiveness. It's kind of hard to justify backing a candidate who shows she's more regressive than progressive.

He sure is. He believes that type of BS.

I didn't think this would gain traction, but it has. People are PISSED at her.

I also would dare say, that she has now knocked herself out of the VP seat.

All because of her big mouth.

He sure is. He believes that type of BS.

I didn't think this would gain traction, but it has. People are PISSED at her.

I didn't either but it looks as if it will slowly pick up. Chris Matthews is having a field day with this.

I also would dare say, that she has now knocked herself out of the VP seat.

All because of her big mouth.

Ted Kennedy doesn't want her on the ticket.

I didn't either but it looks as if it will slowly pick up. Chris Matthews is having a field day with this.

Ted Kennedy doesn't want her on the ticket.

What?!

Damn.

She F-ed up this time. And I wonder what will be said on MTP and TWWGS on Sunday.

Chris Matthews loves this

Someone needs to tell me what Keith Olbermann says on his show, which comes on after CM's.

Chris Matthews: "I tell ya. It's the only sport in which you get a new score card every inning. A brand new...first of all it was going to be elected delegates, then it's superdelegates, then it's popular vote, then it's votes in states that were knocked out of the competition Florida and Michigan, those votes, I mean how many mulligans can this guy take?!"

WORD Chris Matthews. She keeps moving the goal line.

Chris Matthews: "I tell ya. It's the only sport in which you get a new score card every inning. A brand new...first of all it was going to be elected delegates, then it's superdelegates, then it's popular vote, then it's votes in states that were knocked out of the competition Florida and Michigan, those votes, I mean how many mulligans can this guy take?!"

WORD Chris Matthews. She keeps moving the goal line.

I might have to watch him more often. He was on a roll yesterday with HC's man who said they were going to include Puerto Rico in their argument. He must've asked him several times how he could say it with a straight face.

Someone needs to tell me what Keith Olbermann says on his show, which comes on after CM's.

If I watch it, I will. The Ted stuff is coming up now on Hardball.

I'll tell ya ROman. I'm gonna DVR it.

Has she apologized for what she said yet?