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.
GOOD CHOICE. LET’S GIT-R-DONE
Thank you, Joe Andrews, for showing the maturity and leadership that the Democrats need right now in choosing a nominee. I hope the other undecideds, or better yet Clinton superdelegates follow your lead!
Obama/Richardson 08
IT IS NOW EVEN MORE CLEAR THAT THE DNC IS ALL ABOUT THE “PARTY”. THE “PARTY” IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. NEVERMIND THE PEOPLE OR EVEN THE COUNTRY. I WONDER WHICH WILL COME OUT THE WINNER..THE PEOPLE OR “THE PARTY”.
How many rats will join Obama - I guess they find him more compatible with their rat instincts since he dumped his pastor after using him to get ahead - so rat like - rats like Richardson, Reich - march on. There is a cat around the bend to take care of you
Since Joe Andrew also decided to “suddenly” switch to Obama, some of us Hilliary supporters will be voting for McCain. Who would want to vote him back in again when his original answer can be swayed so easily by his peers?
I wonder how much Obama paid him.
This guy was offered a Job with Obama, all he need to do was put a knife in Clinton back, I pray She Wins, then gets alittle pay back for all the dubble crosses that the Obama cheaters are trying to steal this election.
Wow, that is really brilliant! Way to go, DNC! You know that Obama will get crushed in the General Election, yet you continue your suicidal run. I realize you don’t want the black base of your party to riot, that would not be cool! Hillary has a better chance against McCain, but the DNC will pander to the blacks, and have Obama be the nominee. Bring it on, and say HELLO to President McCain. I can see how much Obama cares about the American people, he voted against the holiday gas tax break. I guess when you are wealthy like the Obama’s, saving $$ on ridiculous gas prices is not needed. Oh well, guess I’ll go back to being the typical, bitter white person that I am. I’ll cling to my religion, and my gun, and all will be well. Nice job, Dems! LOL
Logic wins out every time.
The Democrats must really, really want to lose this election for that is what a nomination of Obama would do for them. That’s OK, though. The last thing we need is for the Democrats to tax us more taking away more of our paycheck.