Friday, May 9, 2008

VO Day +3 Endorsements For Obama

It is only the morning still, but Obama has already picked up three superdelegates, one of which used to support Hillary, and a union endorsement.

First, New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne who had previously supported Hillary switched his support to Obama today.

Next, Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio, previously unpledged, has endorsed Obama, releasing this statement:

Senator Obama has proven he is able to energize young Americans, independents, and even moderate Republicans to support his candidacy. I believe he represents our best hope of winning in November, and puts the needs and priorities of hard working Americans ahead of the powerful special interests that have been extraordinarily favored by the Bush-Cheney administration.
Third, we have union leader and superdelegate John Gage, whose union, the American Federation of Government Employees, also endorsed Obama today.

At this point ABC notes that Obama has overtaken Hillary in superdelegates, but their numbers are quite a bit different than all other news outlets, and I hold them in pretty low regard, so I'm going to say they are full of crap. However there are only a handful standing between Obama and Hillary, and the tipping point will likely come within the next week.

And did John Edwards vote for Obama and is he going to endorse...? You be the judge. (I'm voting for yes)

A fourth superdelegate for Obama today, this one coming from California DNC member Ed Espinoza, who released this statement:
I am endorsing Barack Obama today because throughout this process I have seen him show a judgment and character that we need in our next president. From day one he opposed the Iraq war and has a plan to end the war in a responsible way and bring our sons and daughters home. He has shown he has the character to lead our great nation, from his choice to spend his career serving people in the poorest communities in Chicago to his commitment to speaking truth to the American people, even when it isn’t politically convenient to do so. To unify the country at this time in our history we need a president who has these qualities, and that is why I am proud to endorse him today. My good friend Bill Richardson, who backed Obama some weeks ago, knows what it takes to lead and I trust his judgment in this decision as well. I look forward to working with this great movement to bring victory in November.
Obama has received the endorsements of four more superdelegates this afternoon bringing his daily total to 8, to Hillary's -1.

His latest four are congresswoman Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, New Mexico add-on Laurie Weahkee, South Carolina party vice chair Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, and California DNC member Vernon Watkins.

Not good news for Hillary.

He received a 9th for the day, DNC member Joe Johnson from Virginia!

According to the AP Obama is only .5 delegates under Hillary now, essentially tied.

And this is fun, Rasmussen is no longer going to do national polls between Obama and Hillary for the Democratic primary because inn their view "it is over". Nice. =)

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