Former DNC Chairman Switches Support From Clinton to Obama
Thursday Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew announces he has switched his allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow superdelegates to make their choice for a nominee soon. (AP Photo)
A Democratic superdelegate and former head of the party who served while Bill Clinton was president said Thursday he’s changing his allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama because of Obama’s skill in handling the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy and his opposition to a proposed gas tax holiday.
Joe Andrew had originally endorsed Clinton on the day she declared her candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. While holding a conference call in support of Obama on Thursday, he encouraged other superdelegates to act quickly in making their choice.
He said he’s now convinced that Obama represents the promise for a change in the way Washington will work.
“What I saw this past week as Barack Obama answered the questions about his former pastor and as Barack Obama took on the heavy and difficult task of doing what is right on an energy policy and environmental policy and not doing what is politically expedient in order to give a quick pander to Hoosier voters to say we ought to have a cut in the gas tax reconfirmed to me in my mind that it is time for change,” Andrew said from his hometown of Indianapolis.
Andrew also issued a letter that he is sending to superdelegates that says he is switching his support because “a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain.”
Asked for a response to Andrew’s decision, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said, “We support that Democratic process and think that every American should be able to weigh in and support the candidate of his or her own choosing.”Andrew becomes the second superdelegate this week to say he has switched his support for Obama as a result of the Wright controversy.
Indiana. Rep. Baron Hill, who represents a crucial swing district in the state, endorsed Obama on Wednesday. Clinton has the backing of Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, who has a vast organization in the state and has been campaigning aggressively with the former first lady.
Obama initially refused to denounce his former pastor, but did so this week after Wright said Obama is just posturing to distance himself from a world view that could damage his campaign.
“He has shown such mettle under fire,” Andrew said in the interview. “The Jeremiah Wright controversy just reconfirmed for me, just as the gas tax controversy confirmed for me, that he is the right candidate for our party.”
Andrew’s decision — and the announcement of Texas superdelegate and United Steelworkers member John Patrick — puts Obama closer to closing Clinton’s superdelegate lead. Clinton had a big advantage among superdelegates, many of whom like Andrews have ties to the Clintons and backed her candidacy early on. But most of the superdelegates taking sides recently have gone for Obama, who has won more state contests.
Obama now trails her by just 16 superdelegates, 247-263. This week, he picked up 11 superdelegates, including three add-on delegates named by the Illinois Democratic Party, while she netted three.
Superdelegates are nearly 800 elected leaders and Democratic Party officials who aren’t bound by the outcome of state contests and can cast their ballot for any candidate at the national convention. They are especially valuable in this race since neither Clinton nor Obama can win enough pledged delegates to secure the nomination through state-by-state elections.
Obama now leads in the delegate count overall 1735 to 1597 for Clinton. A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to win the nomination. About 230 superdelegates remain undecided, and about 60 more will be selected at state party conventions and meetings throughout the spring.
Other party leaders are encouraging superdelegates to pick a side by late June to prevent the fight from going to the national convention in August. Andrews wrote in his letter that he is calling for “fellow superdelegates across the nation to heal the rift in our party and unite behind Barack Obama.”
Obama and Clinton are running close in Indiana and both need a victory there — Obama to help rebound from a loss to Clinton in Pennsylvania and to prove he can win Midwestern voters and Clinton so she can overcome Obama’s lead in the race overall.
In North Carolina, which votes alongside Indiana on Tuesday, Obama has been leading by double digits, but recent polls taken since Wright’s outspoken press tour began last Friday show Obama may have been damaged by the relationship. Clinton has closed the gap and even passed him in one poll in the Tar Heel State, according to RealClearPolitics..
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
I think Mr. Andrew didnt know how election runs. He just think of the friendly relationship of the losser democrats. For a very long time the losser democrats still craving to win the presidency. Why is it nobody from Democrats get elected? Are you really thinking? McCain will win against Obama. Another loss for Democrats good for you. Hillary is the only one could beat McCain here, better think about it. Come on!
This is a fool that doesn’t understand that the people want to make a choice. What surprises me is that Bill Clinton selected idiots when he was president. Andrews is endorsing Obama after this week
where Rev. Wright insulted all Americans. Let the people vote, it is also obvious, the more that this campaign goes on, Obama doesn’t look or act presidential. I’m sure the Obama campaign managers are pushing for it to end. Maybe Andrews can explain why Obama cant win the big states and that he is losing in the popular vote . If Obama is having trouble beating Hillary, McCain will have no problems beating Obama. Another idiot endorses Obama
One thing that should be noted here is the stand on the federal gas tax. It would save the average family about $9.00 a month and force the government to be even more in the red. It would have unintended consequences much like ethanol. Senators McCain and Clinton are in full pander mode on some of this stuff, saying what people what to hear. We should let this gas thing play itself out. I still see 90 percent of all cars heading to work only carrying one person, so the price of fuel must not be hurting too many people to force a change of habit.
Joe Andrew comments regarding being impressed with how Sen.Obama handled the situation with Rev. Wright.
Something is wrong here. Sen. Obama didn’t denounced his former paster until the Rev. Wright mentioned that Obama does/says things for political reasons just as the Rev. does/says things for religious reasons.
Why didn’t Sen. Obama denounce the Rev. Wrights views on America when he had the chance.
No he said he couldn’t because he considered the Rev Wright as a family member.
He only denounced the Rev. when Wright made that negative comment about Sen. Obama himself.
Sen. Obama did it for personal reasons.
Good call! TIme to heal and beat the Republicans! Nice. Front page please?
Operation Chaos is not doing so well right now. PLEASE vote for Hillary so that we can stretch their primary out longer and allow them to continue to bloody up Obama.
So does this count as two votes? One for Oboma and one away from Clinton. I believe that alot more super delegates that jumped on the Clinton bandwagon before the contest began will be jumping off and switching because Obama has proven he is the Candidate.
While I am a Barack Obama supporter, I’m a Democrat first. I think that the judgement that Sen. Obama has shown throughout this campaign has shown the type of CLASS individual we are dealing with. He has prompted Mr. Andrews to change his support for Sen. Clinton which I’m sure was not an easy task considering his history with the Clintons, but its judgement like this that is needed to bring this party and this country together for the good of all. Thank you Mr. Andrews for taking a first step one of which I hope will be many to follow.!!
Obama is not electable.
The Democratic party has stabbed Hillary in the back many times in the past few months.
I spoke to many Democrats who said they will vote for McCain if they have no choice.
When the democratic party will lose this November, who they will have to blame?
All the republicans who voted for Obama will vote MacCain, because they do not want Hillary v MacCain.
With the Wright and other stories, Obama does not stand a chance to become a president, no matter how much he will distance himself from the people he associated with.
Yeah! People are coming to their senses!