Pelosi's delegate stance boosts Obama

[jefferson_dem]

Source: AP

Pelosi's delegate stance boosts Obama
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says it would be damaging to the Democratic party for its leaders to buck the will of national convention delegates picked in primaries and caucuses, a declaration that gives a boost to Sen. Barack Obama.

"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic party," Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday for broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

The California Democrat did not mention either Obama or his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, by name. But her remarks seemed to suggest she was prepared to cast her ballot at the convention in favor of the candidate who emerges from the primary season with the most pledged delegates.

Obama leads Clinton by 142 pledged delegates — those delegates picked in nomination contests to date, in The Associated Press' count.

<SNIP>

In her interview, Pelosi also said that even if one candidate winds up with a larger share of the popular vote than the delegate leader, the candidate who has more delegates should prevail.

"It's a delegate race," she said. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."

<SNIP>

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080315/ap_on_el_pr/pelosi_...

[SoFlaJet]

1. Pelosi is a sexist

oh wait...nevermind....

[movonne]

2. I think a lot of people are fed up with clinton....

[SoFlaJet]

3. seeing that little YouTuber last week

of Pelosi showing her cards when she said it was now impossible for Hillary to be the VP showed me which way the wind was blowing in Super delegate land-Obama has coattails that will HELP house members get a bigger margin and be able to off-set the blue dog contingent

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

11. That's putting it mildly.

[reflection]

9. heh. nice n/t

[Inuca]

4. That's probably

as close as Pelosi will come to an endorsement until the moment comes to cast ger SD vote. Good for her.

[usregimechange]

5. gives a boost to democracy as well

[1776Forever]

6. Fox News (sorry it's Sat) just reported Obama may get 7 more delegates from Iowa!

They said it may be more but right now as it stands it looks like 7 more!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. Make that 10!

[lib2DaBone]

7. Pelosi cost us dearly

We can never recover what Nancy Pelosi has cost the American Voters.

[davidinalameda]

8. huh?

or did you forget the sarcasm smiley

[fascisthunter]

12. Pelosi's delegate stance boosts Obama

Source: AP

WASHINGTON—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says it would be damaging to the Democratic party for its leaders to buck the will of national convention delegates picked in primaries and caucuses, a declaration that gives a boost to Sen. Barack Obama.

"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic party," Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday for broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

The California Democrat did not mention either Obama or his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, by name. But her remarks seemed to suggest she was prepared to cast her ballot at the convention in favor of the candidate who emerges from the primary season with the most pledged delegates.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/16/p... /

[saltpoint]

13. She's right.

[Birthmark]

14. Dear Nancy,

If neither candidate reaches the total needed for the nomination, then their is no "will" to buck. The voters will have left it to the superdelegates. In any case, it seems to me that the superdelegates should vote their consciences. If they are just a rubber stamp for the voters, then get rid of them; they're redundant.

[Mojorabbit]

15. I hope you are joking

The person with the most delegates and popular vote should get the nomination.

[Birthmark]

16. What makes you think that?

That's certainly true if a candidate reaches the "magic number" through the primaries and caucuses. But why on Earth should a superdelegate be bound by that? Why would they be bound by that --especially if they thought that someone with the largest total of delegates, but not enough to win outright, would be a disaster in the GE?

What if there were three viable candidates left --one with 35%, one with 33%, and one with 32%? Are you saying that the superdelegates should be bound to vote for the one with 35%?

[Mojorabbit]

18. We don't have three

candidates, we have two. Otherwise what is the point of having primaries? May as well just let politicians choose who will be our nominee. No thanks. They have enough say as it is.

[Birthmark]

19. Then your objection is emotional...

...rather than based on any consistent logic. You have a complete right to that belief. I just think it's not very sensible.

[Zhade]

25. Oh, stop sticking up for democracy, silly!

NT!

[TwilightGardener]

17. Somebody is going to be closer to the finish line. The SD's aren't

going to suddenly hit the "reset" button and wipe out all the scores from all the primaries and caucuses and start a new game, just because Hillary wants it that way--sorry.

[Birthmark]

21. I don't care what Clinton wants or doesn't want

Asserting that the superdelegates are obliged to vote for one or the other is unfounded, factually or philosophically. They should have the same freedom to vote their consciences as anyone else, particularly if they think one is better for the party.

[TwilightGardener]

23. If the primary contests meant anything, they won't be able to ignore

the delegate leader. Not without some uproar.

[leftofcool]

20. Is this "impeachment if off the table" Nancy?

Her judgement is as bad as her credibility

[IDemo]

22. Nancy is simply verifying what anyone who has been paying attention knows

The super D's, love'em or hate'em, are not going to move in a large enough block to overturn the candidate with the most pledged delegates. They have no desire to destroy the Democratic Party by doing so. Barring a total collapse by Obama, the majority (even if not all) will support him in Denver.

The smoke-filled room conspiracy talk is entertaining, but it is simply not going to happen that way.

[action2008]

24. And her impeachment stance is sinking Democratic party!

[Zhade]

26. THIS, indeed, is true.

NT!

[knowledgeeverflowing]

29. Pelosi is correct - here's what we can do...

The super delegates are under a lot of pressure right now to come out for one candidate or the other. Our the citizens need to be heard by the super delegates, so that the will of the voter, not be be tossed aside but counted and recognized. Let your voice count http://www.mysuperdelegate.com

[Apollo11]

27. So much for remaining neutral ....

Pelosi is effectively saying that the superdelegates should ONLY pay attention to which candidate has the most pledged delegates nationwide, and IGNORE all other factors.

It means they should IGNORE the nationwide popular vote totals of the two candidates.

They should IGNORE which candidate won the primary or caucus in their own State or district.

They should IGNORE which candidate has the best chance of winning key battleground States.

They should IGNORE national polls showing which candidate is trusted to fix the economy.

They should IGNORE national opinion polls showing which candidate can beat John McCain.


Thanks Nancy! Way to undermine the role of the superdelegates!

[Vidar]

28. Damn, I actually agree with Pelosi for once.