From The Road
May 7, 2008 2:23 PM

Obama Camp Urges Superdelegates: "Bring This to a Close"

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:


CHICAGO -- After winning the North Carolina primary and losing Indiana by two points, the Obama campaign is feeling confident. Campaign manager David Plouffe declared that they can see the finish line and are now looking for superdelegates to wrap up the nomination. "We have been making great progress in the superdelegate world over the past couple of weeks," he said. "I mentioned post Pennsylvania, where Senator Clinton had a nine point win, during the Rev. Wright episode during last week, we still led Senator Clinton in superdelegate endorsements during that period two to one."

Obama supporters Sen.John Kerry, D-Mass., and Gov. Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz., argue that the superdelegates now have a responsibility to move the nominating process forward. "Obama has shown he can win across the board and now its time for superdelegates to bring this to a close," Napolitano said. Obama is expected to meet with undecided superdelegates tomorrow in Washington.

Kerry said that it is the responsibility of the superdelegates to ensure that the Democratic Party will be unified at the convention in August, and suggested that Obama could have won the Indiana primary last night if it was not for the Republicans. "I think if it hadn't been for Republicans taking Democratic ballots he likely would have won in Indiana too," Kerry said. "Rush Limbaugh was tampering with the primary and the GOP has clearly declared that they want Hillary Clinton as a candidate."

On Monday, Limbaugh launched what he called "Operation Chaos," where he urged Indiana Republicans to vote for Hillary Clinton. Plouffe agreed that Limbaugh did have an effect on the outcome of the Indiana primary.

Add a Comment See all 20 Comments
by itsaname May 8, 2008 3:56 PM EDT
I''m a Florida resident, and the votes here should not be counted. I know people who didn''t vote, because they were told their vote wouldn''t count. I know people who switched to the Republican party, so their vote would count. The entire process was a mess.

In Michigan, Clinton was the only democrat on the ballot. We know now why she refused to remove her name. It was so she could claim a "win" in a non-contest and use that if needed to strong arm her way to the nomination.

Both of these states knew the consequences of their actions, and they shouldn''t be rewarded for breaking the rules. That sets a bad precedence.
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by itsaname May 8, 2008 3:53 PM EDT
I''m a Florida resident, and the votes here should not be counted. It was basically a non-election. I know people who didn''t vote, because they were told their vote wouldn''t count. I know people who switched to the Republican party, so their vote would count. The entire process was a mess.

In Michigan, Clinton was the only democrat on the ballot. We know now why she refused to remove her name. It was so she could claim a "win" in a non-contest and use that if needed to strong arm her way to the nomination.

Both of these states knew the consequences of their actions, and they shouldn''t be rewarded for breaking the rules. That sets a bad precedence.
Reply to this comment
by cbsespo May 7, 2008 10:59 PM EDT
The cigar puffing , chubby, druggy will get what he did not want after all.A general election face off with Obama.
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by jesse1115 May 7, 2008 9:44 PM EDT
I have a proposal:
Let us counter ''project chaos'' with our own mission. Let us take stock of our priorities and recognize the great number of issues we democrats agree upon. We should reach out to one another and find a way to work together. We might even consider reaching out to conservatives. Isn''t that what our candidates want? Isn''t that what is best for our nation and the world? Isn''t that the only way we will truly move forward?

We can name this new mission after the man who ultimately inspired it: We can call it ''PROJECT LIMBAUGH''.
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by gabetron May 7, 2008 9:36 PM EDT
Racists go home and learn to spell.
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by tothegeneral May 7, 2008 8:52 PM EDT
This was a tiebreaker. It shifted opionion and math irrevocably in Obama''s favor.
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by wolfi101 May 7, 2008 7:43 PM EDT
I say, seat the FL and MI at the table - 50/50. They broke the rules. And I think, this would be a fair solution for all of those states, who did follow the rules.

Btw, Hillary is on the committee which decided this matter last year. She supported disenfranchisement.
Reply to this comment
by babymammal May 7, 2008 7:32 PM EDT
"C''''mon, this is simple. Barack said Indiana was the tiebreaker. He lost. Now it is time for him to start living up to his words, forget the lofty rhetoric, and leave the race.

Posted by elevando at 03:40 PM : May 07, 2008"


Yeah, wow, you''re absolutely right. He did say that. And important political contests should definitely be decided upon semantical arguments.
Reply to this comment
by babymammal May 7, 2008 7:28 PM EDT
"C''''mon, this is simple. Barack said Indiana was the tiebreaker. He lost. Now it is time for him to start living up to his words, forget the lofty rhetoric, and leave the race.

Posted by elevando at 03:40 PM : May 07, 2008"


Yeah, wow, you''re absolutely right. He did say that. And important political contests should definitely be decided upon semantical arguments.
Reply to this comment
by jy2008 May 7, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
It is amazing some are so excited about NC primary.

What do you expect when Uncle Wright claims
"You are attacking black chuch"
This is BARELY public call on purpose
"You are not black enough"
For that, Uncle Wright deserves VP spot.

The primary SO FAR LEFT is
"The Emperor''''s New Clothes"

Let us wait and laugh at end.
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