Democrats Battle For Superdelegates

Examining The Struggle For The Nomination From Inside The Clinton And Obama Campaigns

(CBS)  It was big politics news over the past week: A significant number of African-American officials, members of Congress, party officials, a lot of these people who are super delegates, who have been supporting Hillary Clinton … are now struggling with that choice. Some of them may switch and vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic convention.

This week's CBS's Face The Nation, examined the thought process about the superdeligates from inside the Clinton and Obama campaigns. Host Bob Schieffer spoke with David Axelrod, the chief strategist for the Obama campaign and Howard Wolfson, communications director of the Clinton campaign.

“Our supporters, our superdelegates are staying with us," Wolfson said. "We’re not worried about that.”

Shouldn't it be a concern when the result of all of the primary elections across the country could come down to a decision decided by superdelegates?

“Well, look, this is a difficult decision for many in our party. We have two very strong candidates with real appeal. We think that our support is very strong. Our supporters, our super delegates are staying with us. We're not worried about that," Wolfson said. "None of the candidates, neither of the candidates will get to the number needed to secure the nomination, 2,025, without the support of super delegates.”

Schieffer asked Axelrod about the funding behind Obama's campaign, should it be in for the long haul to November. But Axelrod said it is premature to discuss public financing for general election before nomination is decided.

“Bob, we're not backing away. What Sen. Obama said is, once the nomination is secured, we will sit down with Sen. McCain as the nominee, and we will talk this through," Axelrod said. "Let's get through the primary season, sit down. We obviously want … nobody's been stronger on campaign finance reform than Barack Obama.”

Schieffer also brought two superdelegates onto the show: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Clinton surrogate, and Richmond, Va., Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. He's supporting Obama. Why?

“…it's a mistake for Bill Clinton to believe that there has been given to him this mantle of authority to be able to speak for and to and to be dismissive of African-Americans. And I think he made a big mistake, and I think he hurt Hillary in the process," Wilder said.

Villaraigosa disagreed, citing that Clinton “understands that we need to unite America” as a reason he supports her.

“I think that Hillary Clinton does that as well. I think she understands that we need to unite America, not just Democrats, Republicans and independents, black and white; every sector of the country," he said.

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Read the full Face the Nation transcript here.

[jypwilliams]

No, we don%u2019t like to reduce matters to race, but American citizenship was built on race differentials. And that fundamental has not loosed its choke on its citizens.

Mr. Lewis'' conflict may be that now could be the time to seize the opportunity our generation was sure we%u2019d never live to see.

Black Americans fear a Black man will never get the support, respect and favor from people with the authority needed in such a position. White Americans fear their way of life could be threatened because they know this to be true.

This run is so important an opportunity for all American citizens because we might now be ready to %u201Cupchuck%u201D this horrible indigestion of divisions from a depth that could actually make us well. This is our opportunity %u2013 Mr. and Mrs. Citizen. Black and White. Let%u2019s let it happen for our own individual health and the wellness of America.

If Mrs. Clinton was truly an American %u201Cfor the people%u201D, she will concede and become vice to Mr. Obama if he extends the invitation, where their ideals, together, will be a formidable force to seriously get on with the issues at hand.

Or will superdelegates cause us to walk away scratching our heads saying: %u201CExactly who are %u201CThe People"?"

[papapaw]

Worrying about the Democratic party is reading this election year all wrong. The party is on fire in a good way. McCain looks pale in comparison, no disrepect intended because he is an amazing guy.

Let this party bask in the attention of this campaign. It keeps all eyes focued where you want them to be. McCain was lucky to have Huckabee keeping him in the news this long.

[papapaw]

There is a really good reason to have SUPER DELEGATES in place.

This year, we have an amzing man whose popularity and Presidential run was ignited by outside influences; and it has been flamed by the likes of the ''Obama Girl'' phenomena on YouTube, which caught on like a wildfire across the Internet amongst the youth, and fueled an army of ideologists who are voting based on what they perceive as ''cool''.

That''s not a great reason to elect a candidate. And that IS a great reason to have SUPER DELEGATES in place to prevent elections to be bought or munipulated.

If Internet munipulation and ''Obama Girl'' - like influences are allowed to sweep an election, the next election will be vulnerable to even more outrageous munipulation.

[papapaw]

There is a really good reason to have SUPER DELEGATES in place.

This year, we have an amazing man whose popularity and Presidential run was ignited by outside influences; and it has been flamed by the likes of the ''''Obama Girl'''' phenomena on YouTube, which caught on like a wildfire across the Internet amongst the youth, and fueled an army of ideologists who are voting based on what they perceive as ''''cool''''.

That''s not a great reason to elect a candidate. And that IS a great reason to have SUPER DELEGATES in place to prevent elections from being bought or manipulated.

If Internet manipulation and ''''Obama Girl'''' - like influences are allowed to sweep an election, the next election will be vulnerable to even more outrageous manipulation.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by JYPWilliams at 05:32 PM : Feb 17, 2008

Depends on whether you want to unite the country with competence or a buffoon who hasn''t a clue!

Me, I''ll take competence and confidence...I thought he was a good guy until he got Al and Jesse to stir up a bunch of lies about a Clinton statement. Since then I''ve researched and spotted lie after lie.

No thanks!

[vietphantom3]

I wondered how long it would take for a real race card to be truely played. This Sunday, Mayor Wilder slammed it down...Blacks will riot if they don''t get their way (or what they think is their way). Sen Obama must overcome this mentality if he is to be elected. We do not need a daily parade of Sharptonesques shouting "Tawana Brawley" or Black communities "Duke Lacross Team'' and most certainly not "Watts Riots"..

For me to even consider his candidacy, he must prove that he can AND will control this loud, dangereous minority. The comments of Mayor Wilder and the threatened mob actions are a true insult and slap-in-the-face to all of us, white and black, who have worked for "Civil Rights" in this natiion. All Americans must remember it took the right two leaders, President Johnson and Dr King, to properly merge the American public, white/ black/ brown/ yellow /red and all hues between for the passage of the Civil Rights Acts.

[hofkurz]

Mayor Wilder was right on with the osmosis comment.
Hillary Clinton does not have the right to claim any experience just because she was in the general vicinity.
She had eight years to get health care and wasn''t successful. Why would anyone think she could be successful now??? Sitting on the board of WalMart for six years and working for women''s rights? Not. Women employees were treated just as badly at the end as they were when she first started on the board.