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.
Nancy Pelosi should tell the authors of that letter where they can go. They are simply trying to intimidate her into letting them steal the nomination for Hillary Clinton after the Clinton campaign failed to win it fairly and according to the rules that Hillary agreed to.
I have to say that the Party is always first is it not?
The division in America is due to the out and out fighting that has gone on between our two Parties for along time now. Whether we choose to beleive the old saying(s) or not. United we stand divided we fall”. Still holds true. Oh and I do mean our country not our parties. They have lost thier way really badly, the way you are leading us down ………In the name of holding to power. It is a disgrace for both sides of the political arena. And it is showing even within just the Democratic side.
hehehe =)
that is what you get…come up with a totally anti-democratic system and look what happens… you get the ELITE Aristocracy telling the elected officials to but out or face financial support being withdrawn…(basically saying…do what we tell you or you don’t get the money you need to get reelected….) what a bunch of losers….maybe they should just get it over with and change the name of the Democratic party to the People’s Socialist Party of America…after all …they think all the “normal” people out here are too stupid to understand the complexity of the nomination process….yeah..we get it…the guy/gal that gets the most votes should be the nominee…no super idiots needed to decide that…pretty basic…the Greeks started that 2500 years ago…Romans figure it out too….even the Europeans figured it out before becoming mainly socialistic….
They should butt out and Pelosi should too, let the process will out. Is it even legal to send a letter like that ??
I love it when the Clintons try to use mafia tatics and strong arming.
Pelosi better be careful, People who against the Clintons in the past
didn’t make out so well. Some are dead even.
Be very careful
Interesting quote…
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.
it could actually be said that few have done more to destroy America than Bill and Hillary Clinton, and both would be equally true…
Guess we know where Clintons support comes from! Rich fatcats saying “don’t oppose Hillary or our money evaporates”. This is really the Clintons at their best! Their is no way for us to win now accept threats from our fat cat doners if you don’t do the right thing. This is politics at thier ugliest just the way Billary loves it. Keep sucking up to big money and special interests Hillary maybe their threats will pay off for the superdelegates you pathetic train wreck!
One thing is clear Hillary want to rig the nomination just like we do in zimbabue.
Pelosi would be well advised to shut her gargantuan trap more often.
Bill and Hill will do anything to get Hilliary elected. Can you imagine the talks and smoozing going on to get the superdelegates to cast their votes for her. They just can’t accept defeat.