State Superdelegate Hopes Primaries Decide Nominee
This story was written by Lauren McIver, Oklahoma Daily
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Daily is running a series of profiles on the 10 Oklahoma superdelegates. The series was created in conjunction with a class in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
One of the "best lawyers" in America, according to the Tulsa World, Jim Frasier is also one of the most important people in the Democratic party this election year: Frasier is one of Oklahoma's 10 superdelegates.
The closeness of the race between Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has increased the possibility that the votes of nation's approximately 850 Democratic superdelegates will play a decisive role in selecting the nominee. The superdelegates are free to vote for any candidate they choose at this summer's Democratic National Convention.
"Bill Clinton called me the other day and wanted to know who I was going to commit to," Frasier said. "I told him I am uncommitted until the very end."
Frasier said he is against the superdelegates affecting the outcome.
"I hope to God it doesn't come to that," he said. "I don't think it would be good for the party. I want the primaries to decide the nominee. I don't want people to think fat cats in smoke-filled rooms are deciding the nominee."
As one of Oklahoma's Democratic National Committee members, Frasier originally committed his vote to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
"John [would] offer a choice for the ordinary American. He also stands for campaign finance reform, which I think is the number one thing that we need to address to save our democracy," Frasier said. "He is a person with a great deal of character."
Frasier said he agrees with Edwards' stance on most issues.
"[Edwards] states it pretty clear: Washington is out of control and in the hands of lobbyists, specifically the drug companies, the insurance companies and the multinationals," he said.
Frasier said he raised $70,000 for Edwards in one day at a fundraiser in his Tulsa home.
Although Edwards suspended his campaign in January, Frasier said he still hopes to vote for Edwards at the Democratic National Convention.
Frasier was born in Evergreen, Ill., and grew up in Tulsa. He attended the University of Tulsa as both an undergraduate and law student, and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Frasier has been a Democratic National Committee member for Oklahoma since 1997.
Currently, Frasier is a managing partner for the Tulsa-based law firm Frasier, Frasier and Hickman. He specializes in personal injury, automotive claims, medical negligence and products liability. Frasier said he serves clients in Oklahoma and five other states.
© 2008 Oklahoma Daily via U-WIRE