Obama Picks Up More Delegates in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Barack Obama expanded his fragile lead in delegates over rival Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday, picking up at least seven delegates as Iowa activists took the next step in picking delegates to the national convention.
Half the 14 delegates allocated to John Edwards on the basis of caucus night projections switched Saturday and Obama got most, if not all, of them.
Iowa Democratic Party officials said that with more than 86 percent of the delegates picked, Obama claimed 52 percent of the delegates elected at county conventions on Saturday, compared to 32 percent for Clinton. About 16 percent of the delegates picked at Saturday’s conventions were sticking with Edwards, even though he’s dropped from the race since Iowa held its caucuses in January.
Democratic Party projections said the results mean Obama increased by seven the number of delegates he collects from the state, getting a total of 23 compared to 14 for Clinton and seven for Edwards, with one to be decided.
Twelve automatic delegates bring the state’s total to 57. Obama has been endorsed by four of those and Clinton three, with the remainder uncommitted.
Counting Iowa’s results Saturday, an Associated Press delegate tally showed Obama with 1,610 delegates and Clinton with 1,496.
Obama won the state’s precinct caucuses in January with 39 percent of the vote, with Edwards narrowly edging Clinton to finish second. Projections on caucus night showed Obama getting 16 delegates, compared to 15 for Clinton and 14 for Edwards.
“It means the Obama people are very organized,” said Iowa Democratic Chairman Scott Brennan. “They have been working very hard for these conventions.”
Brennan said turnout was heavy, with more than 13,000 activists showing up at conventions in the state’s 99 counties.
“Today, Iowa Democrats again turned out in large numbers to reject the failed Bush-McCain campaign and its policies,” said Brennan.
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 was Saturday with selection of delegates to congressional district and state conventions. Party officials said the results Saturday marked the election of 2,173 of the 2,500 delegates who will go to those convention.
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.
Rob Tully, a Des Moines lawyer and prominent Edwards backer, sent an e-mail to supporters urging them to remain neutral, but there was clear movement to Obama when the results were tallied.
“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.”
This is is truly not about racism, This is about the love for our Country.
Obama has had a relationship with Rv Wright for tweny years. Apparently his spiritual advisor and mentor. I truly think Rv Wrights opinion is not new news for Mr. Obama.
I as a long time supporter of Obama, I am disappointed becasue his words speach when he was accused that those words were not his. He emphesised that words were of the utmost important. Yet he has chosen a racist, American Hater for twenty years as a personal, spirtual advisor and mentor. A preacher that encourages his congretion not to say God Bless America but to say God Damm America. My Vote now is more for the Love of my country than to have the change that Obama may bring us. I encourage that many young Americans that love their country do the same.
THIS MAN IS ASKING US TO IGNORE HIS PAST AND ONLY THINK OF THE FUTURE.
OBAMA thinks if he puts distance between himself and PASTOR WRIGHT—the story will disappear. Obama has contributed thousands of dollars to the church. When Obama announced his candidacy for President, he dropped Wright as a speaker (Obama knew then what Wright was spewing!). Pastor Wright was on Obama’s political campaign ‘spiritual advisory committee’ until YESTERDAY!
OBAMA thinks if he puts distance between himself and FARRAKHAN and all the money Farrakhan donated to his campaign —the story will disappear. Wright gave Farrakhan a “lifetime achievement” award, and Obama lied in a debate saying it was for some community service Farrakhan did. Yesterday, Obama said he may have received more money in donations than previously reported.
OBAMA thinks if he puts distance between himself and REZKO and his Arab associates—the story will disappear. There is ample evidence that Rezko did favors for Obama. A million dollar home for three-hundred-thousand, plus the land next door. At first, Obama said he did a few hours of work for Rezko. Now, he admits he may have received about $250,000 from Rezko.
OBAMA thinks if he puts distance between himself and the NAFTA Meeting—the story will disappear. The Obama campaign admitted the meeting AFTER they were caught!
OBAMA thinks if he puts distance between himself and MICHELLE’S COMMENTS—the story will disappear. Read her college thesis.
OBAMA thinks if he puts distance between himself and Exelon, the country’s largest nuclear plant operator. Obama’s “Chief Political Strategist”, David Axelrod, has worked as a consultant to Exelon. Is this the history of the candidate who doesn’t accept money from big business? How many other big companies are helping to raise these huge funds ($55 million in Feb)?
WE HAVE JUST OVER FOUR MORE MONTHS TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT WHO BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA REALLY IS. I’m sorry, but your past and your 20-year relationship with Jeremiah Wright, as well as relationships with others, tells me that you are not an AMERICA FIRST supporter. Heck, I knew (after 9-11) what his pastor was saying! Over the last year, he has been stretching out lies (a little at a time).
As for Rev. Wright and Obama…GIVE IT A REST! It is obvious that Obama is the change America needs, those who make an issue about Obama and the Rev. are using this as an excuse because of their own deep seated racist. Close your eyes and listen to what Barack Obama is saying, listen to his speech and not the yells of his oponent for a continued same ole same ole with the exaggeration of her imaginary experience. It is clear that Obama is for the people, while his opponent is for herself. Real experience will come with the job, Obama will surround himself with the best and make the right decisions for America. This is our chance to finally go in the right direction and not be swolled up by continued deception.
Americans are too intelligent to be swayed by Fox or any other media outlet…No wonder Iowans have one of the highest IQ’s in the country…
Both Clinton and O’bama are fighting over a bucket of spit. They are both fatally flawed candidates in a party that is tearing itself apart. The racial and anti-American chickens have finally come home to roost and I for one could not be happier.
Obama 20 years of mentoring from a Racist and An American Hater. Obama by his own admittance has said Wright has been his mentor, his influence has formed him.
Everyone should really think twice about thinking Obama as our president. These horrific Statements that Obama’s friend, family member as he once referred to Wright , Mentor for twenty years has said. They are appauling, he has accused America for intensionally giving the HIV virus to Africa. This man has the nereve after we Americans that work hard for our money just recently millions of our tax earned money has been given to Africa. WE give because American cares for people, how dare does this racist evil man say we deserved 9/11, how dare does this man say to blacks that they should not say God Bless America but to say God Damn America. This is the man that Obama has had 20 years of friendship, influenced and Mentoring. That Obama now tells us he was not aware of this is insulting to Americans..How can we allow this friendship and mentoring to go into the White House. For those of you that still support Obama open up your eyes, listen to what his mentor and spiritual leader has said about our beloved America and think that by Obama’s admission he has said this America Hater has been his mentor and spiritual leader. Obama has always said words are very important, i agree..
thats the reason I am going to take his mentors word very seriously and say NO NO NO for a
man that has been mentored and influenced by an American Hater for President. No to Obama!
May God Bless Our Wonderful Nation! May God Bless American
I believe all men and women can think for themselves and do not blindly follow everything their pastors say. And I am willing to hear what Obama has to say, not his pastor. Something good has led the man to be a graduate of Harvard, the President of the Harvard law review. a teacher of the Constitution at the Univ Chicago, a community organizer, a 2time best selling author, a State Senator for 8yrs, and a US Senator for 3yrs all by the age of 46. I wish my pastor had that kind of effect on me. Obama is the most realistic, intelligent and energizing of the remaining candidates.
Hillary Clinton said the caucus was not fair because it left out many people for a number of reasons. So the Iowa Legislative Leaders and other Democratic leaders said, DO NOT VOTE FOR CLINTON BECAUSE SHE WILL NOT SUPPORT OUR CAUCUS’S. So we base our support for the President of the United States on this question: support for our caucus, how so utterly stupid, stupid!
The only ones that need a “wake up America” call are the Clinton fans that actually think HIllary is a religous, God-fearing person. Cold, calculating, devious and power hungry come to mind as more accurate descriptions.
GO OBAMA