Top Clinton Supporters Warn Pelosi Over Superdelegate Statements
WASHINGTON — Twenty top Democratic donors who are supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a letter asking her to retract her comments on superdelegates and stay out of the Democratic fight over their role in the presidential race.
In their letter, Clinton’s supporters said superdelegates “must look to not one criterion but to the full panoply of factors that will help them assess who will be the party’s strongest nominee in the general election.”
The letter also noted the donors “have been strong supporters” of the House Democrats’ fundraising arm. “We therefore urge you to clarify your position on superdelegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the national convention in August.”
Pelosi, who has not endorsed either candidate as chair of the Democratic National Convention, said during a March 16 appearance on ABC’s “This Week” that it would be harmful to the party if superdelegates don’t support the pledged delegate winner.
“This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party’s intent in establishing superdelegates in 1984,” the letter from the wealthy Clinton backers said.
No matter what the outcome of the 10 remaining contests, it will be nearly impossible for Clinton to overcome rival Barack Obama’s lead in pledged delegates, because they are awarded proportionally based on the outcome.
So it will be up to the nearly 800 superdelegates — party activists and elected officials who aren’t bound by any vote — to put one of the two candidates over the mark of 2,024 delegates needed to win the nomination. Obama has 1,406 pledged delegates to Clinton’s 1,249, according to The Associated Press count.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said, “This letter is inappropriate and we hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it.”
“Regardless of the outcome of the nomination fight, Senator Obama will continue to urge his supporters to assist Speaker Pelosi in her efforts to maintain and build a working majority in the House of Representatives,” Burton said.
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said Clinton had made the case superdelegates should exercise independent judgment about who would be the best for the party and the country.
“Few have done more to build the Democratic Party than Bill and Hillary Clinton. The last thing they need is a lecture from the Obama campaign,” he said.
The letter was first reported by the political blog Talking Points Memo.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
I totally agree that Nancy Pelosi should stop making such comments. On the one hand she’s non-committal on her own endorsement, on the other she pretty much “hints” at it with such comments. Besides, in my book, nobody really cares about her comments. She’s been pretty much a moot point as speaker of the house ever since she got that position.
nancy pelosi doesnt have a clue as to what is going on. she simply is not intelligent enough to be aware of any implications of what she says from one day to another.
Good for the supporters of Clinton - why on earth would we have the superdelegates if they are not allowed to vote as they feel would benefit the Democratic party come November.
Glad that the speaker has been challenged with her many many comments of late.
Hillary
I truly hope you win the nomination using your influence with superdeligates rather than popular vote. I am sure that you will split the Democratic Party into two factions, thus asureing McClains winning the Presidental Race. Leave it to a Clinton to always know whats best!
Thanks
Terry
If super folks are allowed to override the popular and the delegate vote…..they are the same as the Politbeaureau of the old communist Russia
Bill and Hillary Clinton have done more to manipulate, malign, divide, and undermine the Democratic party since she started her presidential campaign than anyone in the Republican Party has in that same time frame. Somehow they have lost all perspective on what is important for both the Democratic Party and the country as a whole. Blind ambition does that.
It looks to me like Pelosi is correct in her assumption. Numbers don’t lie!! If Clinton were ahead in this primary race, there wouldn’t be all the crying and moaning about the Florida and Michigan delegates. The decision by the democratic party was made both by the federal leadership and the state leadership…..changing the rules after the fact would be absolutely wrong. Neither candidate campaigned in either state and Obama’s name wasn’t even on the ballot in Michigan, which actually makes Hillary’s higher numbers obsolete. In addition, it would create pandemonium and disagreements in both states as to whether every viable voter actually received a ‘vote by mail’ ballot. This election could go on for months and we, the United States of America, will once again look like idiots to the rest of the world. Hillary’s determination to fight this to the floor of the convention will only split the party even more than it has already been split. As I have known for a very long time, the Clintons will do whatever it takes to get back into the White House, without concern for the party, the country, or the voters. Obviously, they have made some very big promises to the rich donators that back them financialy and have no way to meet those promises unless they are elected.
All I can say is that the Democrats had better get their act together and pick one candidate and soon….all this bickering is hurting the party and giving a lot of fuel to McCain. They are gonig to ruin everything and God forbig we will have another 8 years of Republican rule and be in a Depression!
This was their chance for a landslide. I can’t believe what is going on.
It’s about time somebody spoke up!
i think everyone should give nancy pelosi a pass. that woman is dumber than sin, and less aware now than nancy reagan who is nearly 100 years old