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.
On that same token, few have been able to tear the democrat party apart like Bill and Hillary have done.
Maybe Nancy Pelosi thinks someones cares what she thinks. I not only think she should keep her nose out of the democratic party selection process, I think she should learn manners. She is a very rude woman.
To me none of these delegates belong as a candidate for the presidency, since none of them have told the truth to the American public. there so typical of what the American people have let these 2 party’s have shoved on us I think all the house and senate should be out and vote in people that can get things done that are not party fools
I hope that everyone knows that if the Superdelegates go to the dark side (Hillary) ignoring the voting public, the Black’s in this country will riot and burn America to the ground.
Sure Bill and Hillary have built the democratic party…… on quicksand!
Obamas politics are no different than Bush’s politics. Its the politics of bullying. Obama’s campaign just spreads prettier , sweeter icing on his cake. but its still the same cake as Bush’s.
This group ia corruption group the they finance Hillary,and she must give them back.
How demcrats cane be democrats?if the dont respect the willing of the voters?
Go Hillary. Pelosi does’t know what she is talking about. Pelosi is biased. Obama has simple ignored Fl and MI and Pelosi needs to learn that ever vote and ever voice counts.
If Barack is the winner of the popular vote, even if not enough to put him over 2,024, then he should get the superdelegates. By the same token, then Hillary should get them. Either way the people should be the deciders. Wasn’t this the problem for Al Gore in the 2000 election.
Most people are mind numbed robots they won’t vote for a third party candidate. This election the Democrats (liberals) are the winners because McCain is a Democrat in Republican clothing.
Not even the great Rush Limbaugh will go against the Republicans because he too, a mind numbed robot, is told and believes, not voting either Democrat or Republican is throwing your vote away. I hope more people will search out other party candidates, stop believing what the media says, keep democracy alive, and start voting for the candidate who may really be THE BEST for America.
Just when you think you have seen everything, the Clinton campaign reaches into the barrel for a new low. Who and what are these people that they have the gaul to tell the speaker of the house what she should as an opinion. This woman MAY wind up with the nomination but will likely have little or no respect in the eyes of the public when she gets thru twisting things to serve her ends.