Iowa, the Sequel: Dems Court Former Edwards Backers in Stage 2 of State Contest
DES MOINES, Iowa — Supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are once again ardently courting Iowa Democratic activists as they vie for the support of delegates pledged to departed rival John Edwards.
Edwards finished second in the state’s leadoff precinct caucuses on Jan. 3, but those caucuses are only the first step in a complicated process of picking the state’s 45 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August.
The next step in that process are the conventions held Saturday in each of the state’s 99 counties, where 13,000 activists gathered to elect delegates to congressional district and state conventions.
The epic presidential race between Clinton and Obama has been reshaped since Iowa’s caucuses, but is no less intense with every delegate carrying weight.
“Every single one counts and that’s why we’ve been here organizing,” said Teresa Vilmain, a field organizer for Clinton.
“We’ve filled all of our slots,” said Gordon Fischer, a former Iowa Democratic chairman who is organizing for Obama.
Obama won the state’s precinct caucuses with 39 percent of the vote, with Edwards narrowly edging Clinton to finish second. State Democratic Party officials projected those results would yield Obama 16 delegates, Clinton 15 and Edwards 14. Though Edwards finished second, Clinton got the extra delegate because of her strong showing in congressional districts with additional weighting.
Those 14 potential Edwards delegates are now in play since he’s dropped from the race. An Associated Press delegate tally showed Obama with 1,603 delegates and Clinton with 1,497, so both camps are competing for every delegate available.
Rob Tully, a Des Moines lawyer and prominent Edwards backer, sent an e-mail to supporters urging them to remain neutral, but there appeared to be movement.
“Barack Obama stands for a lot of the same things that John Edwards stood for,” said Ro Foege, a state legislator from Mount Vernon who switched to the Obama camp.
The county conventions are traditionally sleepy gatherings where party leaders have trouble gathering a quorum to conduct business, largely because the party usually has a nominee by this point. With the race still up for grabs, activists jammed school gymnasiums, auditoriums and meeting halls across the state.
Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Clinton backer, spoke to more than 1,200 delegates jammed into a suburban high school gym.
“The reality is we are united on one thing today, we are Democrats, we are proud Democrats and we are going to elect a Democratic president,” said Vilsack, who dropped his own bid for the nomination even before the voting began. “Let us pledge that we will unite behind our nominee — be it he or she.”
Party officials expected results from virtually all the counties by late afternoon. A handful of tiny rural counties were holding their conventions in the evening.
In addition to the 45 pledged delegates, the state has 12 automatic delegates who are elected officials or party leaders. Four of those have endorsed Obama, three Clinton and the rest are uncommitted.
I’m hopeful that Senator Edwards’ backers will unite behind Barack Obama. The distractions from both the Clinton and Obama camps over their supporters inappropriate and appalling remarks has been a great distraction from the issues and the candidates themselves, but one thing is clear. We have to end the divisiveness and name calling in our country so that we can solve the problems that are hurting average Americans. Barack Obama is the candidate who can best accomplish this, and he needs our support.
If I were Edwards, I’d release my delegates for Hillary anyway after seeiing Obama’s real face!
Noway a man who attends this church in this race to be president! NOWAY!!!
IOWA HAS THE CHANCE TODAY TO PUT FORTH THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON! HILLARY HAS SHOWN THAT SHE HAS THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND GRIT TO BE OUR PRESIDENT! SHE IS A FIGHTER! SHE IS A TRUE PATRIOT! SHE IS A CHAMPION OF THE MIDDLE CLASS! SHE IS A LEADER! SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE POOR! VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON, IOWA!
I EXPECT UNBIASED REPORTING FROM ALL NETWORKS, AND THIS NETWORK IS OBVIOUSLY, SENDING A LOUD MESSAGE OF THE ONE LADY TO VOTE FOR TO DAMAGE ANOTHER, WHEN THIS NETWORK WANTS A REPUBLICAN, WELL KNOWN AND CONTINUALLY BROADCASTED AS SUCH; BE REAL, AS PEOPLE ARE SMART TO SEE WHAT CONCERN N MESSAGES THAT ARE NOT THE HONEST REFLECTION OF WHO THIS NETWORK WOULD VOTE FOR, THEY WANT A REPUBLICAN, SO IT WOULD BE OF THE UTMOST INTEGRITY TO BALANCE YR DEMOCRATIC/HONESTY, AND NOT HAVE MANY HOST ENCOURAGE WE, THE PEOPLE (THAT ARE SMART OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES N ARE DISTURBING TO HEAR YOUR HOST SAY ( FOX IS THE BEST POLITICAL TEAM,YET ARE YOU THE BEST AT BEING FAIR N BALANCED; NO!!
IT’S DISINGENIOUS TO TELL VOTERS TO VOTE FOR A CERTAIN WOMAN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, YET THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR THE OPPOSITE PARTY. IT’S NOT FAIR N BALANCED N RATINGS DON’T GIVE A NETWORK INTEGRITY;
HONESTY AND FAIRNESS IS, ALWAYS, IN THE LONG RUN, THE REFLECTION OF WHO WE, OF ANY NETWORK WILL BE REMEBERED FOR N WHO WE WILL CHOOSE N NOT CHOOSE TO WATCH IN THE FUTURE. AND, INTEGRITY,FAIR N BALANCED WITHOUT INFLUENCING ONE,ESPECIALLY WITH GUEST ENCOURAGING US TO VOTE FOR 1 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, SO THE OTHER LOSES, N THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE IS CONCERNING, DISTUBING AND DISSAPPOINTING.
SINCERELY, KAREN
WITH ALL THE DEMOCRATIC HOOPLA ABOUT THE RACE CARD BEING PLAYED BY
OBAMA AND THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN, THINKS THIS RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
IS IN THE BAG? THEY WILL BE SADLY MISTAKEN.
THERE ARE REAL ISSUES BEING DECIDED THAT WILL MAKE THEM
THE FOIL FOR THE SPOILERS.
THEIR ANTICS AND TACTICS WILL BACKFIRE ON THEM COME NOVEMBER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID, NOR IGNORANT OF THE CHARGES
BEING LEVELED AT THE DEMOCRATS, AND, THE REPUBLICANS, ADMINISTRATION.
THEIR OWN TACTICS AND OBSTRUCTIONISM IN THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESS,
HAVE MADE THEM AND BACKED THEM INTO A CORNER.
NOW THE REPUBLICANS, ALSO HAVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF BLAME,
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT. IT IS ABOUT WHATS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY
AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE, NOT AS SEPERATISTS AND DEVISIVENESS OF;
THE, PARTY LINE. NOT, WITHSTANDING THE BACKLASH OF THEIR NEGATIVITY AND
CONDENSATION TO THE FAR LEFT WING AND ADAMENT POLITICAL RETORIC.
THAT WILL AFFECT NOTHING BUT, MOORE AND MOVE-ON, THEM TO DEFEAT
AND MORE GRIDLOCK IN THE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE!
WITH VETO AFTER VETO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THEIR
OBNOXIOUS AND ARRAGANT CONDUCT; OF THE COUNTRIES BUSINESS AND OUR,
INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERESTS AROUNT THE WORLD.
DON’T EVER FORGET, AND NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION WHEN THE
PARTY POLITIC OF THE (DEMOCRATS) ARE THE INSTIGATOR OF THE CURRENT CRISIS
IN THE ECONOMIC SECTORS. AS WELL AS,
“THE DEFENSE! OF THIS NATION, AND THE BORDERS.”
AND THE ILLEGAL IMIGRATION, ISSUES ALL ARE THE DECIDING FACTORS!
THEY MUST ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BEFOR THEY GET TO THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.
AND MR. McCAIN; IS OUT DOING THE JOB OF THE COUNTRY WITH HIS UPCOMMING
OVERSEAS VISITS THAT, WILL HAVE THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW TO
STRENGTHEN OUR DEFENSE AND INTERNATIONAL ALLIES SUPPORT FOR THE WAR ON TERROR.
IN OTHER WORDS, BEING THE RIGHT CANDIDATE TO DATE; FOR AS HE IS CONSENTRATING ON; THE WORLD VIEW, AND THE BIG PICTURE, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE IGNORED AND ARE BLIND TO, WITH THEIR HATE OF BUSH AND BASHING THIS COUNTRY WITH THEIR, SOCIALIST DOGMA AND AGENDA.
THEIR CONVENTION AND THE SUPER DELEGATS, WILL NOT GET EITHER ONE OF THEM ELECTED, IN NOVEMBER. FOR THE REPUBLICANS AND THE PEOPLE WILL TAKE ALL THIS INTO CONSIDERATION; FOR THEIR SELECTION IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
END TRANS: MARV!
I can’t believe that the state where I was born and that has such high standards and native intelligence would give one second of their time to listening to the lies and evil hypocrisy of the Clinton’s. The sensational sexual expose of MRS. CLINTON’S State governor should recall the CLINTON”S hypocrisy and lies when her part-time husband’s decades of infidelities were flaunted to the world. Should we risk OUR security and future of our children to such bad judgment and conduct?
Interesting. I live in Iowa, and I didn’t know that we had “13,000 activists” in the whole state. Oh, you mean the delegates who were selected at the caucuses, where 18-year-olds, middle-aged folks, and the elderly got together to vote. Neighbors… ordinary people who actually work and have families and yes, who care enough to vote in a caucus.
And I see that you’ve begun parroting what Clinton minions have been saying in switching from the conventional “superdelegates” to “automatic delegates.” No doubt it’s more “Fair and Balanced” that way. I’m not sure that the “News” in your name is really warranted, but I suppose it rolls off the tongue better than “FoxPropaganda” or perhaps “FoxPravda.”
Every logical mind should be able to work out that 911 was planned years ahead and brilliantly executed. If you don’t know that, don’t even bother to read any further.
Many have said Senator Obama possesses a rare combination of skills, in fact so rare, no single other politician comes even close. What is not realized is the Senator also possesses a brilliant political mind. He knows everything he does, he does it with finesse, when he is not sure, he tests the waters to verify his plan. If he finds the test results satisfactory, his plan goes in. The Senator, to summarize, is a master Strategist; he leaves nothing to chance.
He knows full well he cannot win in November, so for now he goes in as the Peace Messiah. Nobody even knows or suspects he is testing the waters.
The Iran hate America Bush plan was executed with perfection. After that Ferraro and the race conflict. Nobody can point a finger at him. He rides across the screens hands clean, the Grand Uniter, Peace Messiah. Inside he knows he is closer to his goal than the day before. He knows it perfectly well.
You don’t believe this? Let me tell you his next big step [test] is Denver. If he fails in Denver he knows he will have to withdraw. But don’t think you know his private definitions of fail or win.
Herein lies the point. Senator Obama will win August if Denver erupts in flames. That is the grand and final test for him, inside him. So either way he wins. He simply cannot loose, whichever way it goes. …. Superbly confident, because everything has worked according to plan so far. He is the “Yes, I Can” man.
Another comment somewhere said: “don’t afterwards say you did not know I was a snake when you took me in.”
Listen, Obama will not win the general election. The democratic national committee needs to understand this. If Hillary is not at the top of the ticket, McCain will win the Presidency. We don’t want the radical muslums dancing in the streets again. Get it.
I, along with millions of others, are so angry at the media for their bias against Hillary. Keep giving a pass to Obama you idiots. He will silence you all!
Hillary will win PA, Michigan and Florida (again!!) and she will be the front runner for the good of your beloved Country and it’s citizens. Media gives Obama a free pass. God gives Hillary a free pass because he knows that we back Israel. God trumps the stupid media. YOU IDIOTS!!!!
There was something about Obama that made him seem militant when he spoke. This ability to capture his audience scare me like it’s a cult. But after the tapes about his pastor were aired, now I understand. The look in his eyes after he lost Ohio and Texas. The hatrid in his eyes and his tone gave me the creeps. I don’t understand the attraction. He can’t stand on judgement anymore and
What’s up. Is this Box closed.
I am not surprised. Many people are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel by supporting Barack Obama now. I was a former Edwards supporter myself but when he dropped out of the race the choice was obvious. Choose more of the same ol same ol or choose HOPE and a chance for Change! Barack Obama is the only hope we have for change in America and thats why I am voting for him! Hillary is old news and is getting old. She doesn’t understand what we really need TODAY! She is still living in the 1990’s. I encourage everyone to be positive and vote for positive changes like Barack Obama! We can do it! WE are the ones we have been waiting for! We can change America. YES WE CAN!
I would hope John Edwards would come out and give these delegates to Hillary especially after the Rev Wright video.
I have just today sent a letter to my state senator (Claire McCaskill) urging her to change her mind and vote for Hillary Clinton. It contained a petition of over 300 registered voters who agree with this decision. My state was all light blue especially the rural areas. The large heavily populated areas of St. Louis & Kansas City were the Obama strongholds. I am getting far off point. I urge others to do the same in their states if they truly care about America and our way of life. I know how bad things are with the economy, the present administration, our dependence on foreign oil….I DON’T have to list them you & I live them every day. It’s hard to find the right words due to the seriousness of this election. As you can tell I am no orator, I just feel we must save our Democratic partyand I cannot support a amn that lived and went to church for 20+ years with a pastor who spews such hateful and vile remarks and it did not have an effect on him! You can fool some of the people with your lame excuses but not ALL of the people (or I at least hope not!) That it in a nutshell Hillary might have a few skeletons in her closet…but I KNOW where I stand with her and to those of you who will vote for Mr. Bush LITE(McCain) instead of Mrs Clinton I say please reconsider…….