Are Biden & Richardson getting ready to throw their support behind Obama?

[TeamJordan23]

Obama On Track To Win Caucus 2nd Tier Support

Des Moines--Barack Obama has already begun shoring up support among the lower-tier candidates who lack the money or poll numbers to be serious contenders in the early primary states, such as Iowa, and Offthebus hears that "agreements" with these candidates may be announced soon.

Dennis Kucinich started what may add up to the critical mass Obama needs for a win or strong second-place showing in the Iowa caucuses, when Kucinich encouraged his supporters - few though there are in this frozen state - to join the Obama forces on caucus night, if Kucinich doesn't have enough voters to be viable.

The Kucinich endorsement flooded the blogoshpere and the main-street-media and handed Obama a mini-bounce at a critical time in this campaign for the most privileged voters in America - Iowa's caucus attendees.

For days, the rumors have been flying between the campaigns about which of the top three candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination will benefit from the second tier non-viable candidates - Joe Biden and Bill Richardson - to be specific.

The Biden national and state campaign honchos met at 4 p.m. Monday in a Des Moines attorney's office to discuss their strategy and decide if they would encourage their non-viable voters to choose either Obama, Edwards, or Hillary Clinton's caucus contingents.

At a crowded and noisy Star Bar on Ingersoll Avenue, where the Biden campaign staffers were sipping champagne - or harder stuff - and waiting for their candidate, his wife, and the Biden Family to arrive for a New Year's Eve informal gathering, Offthebus chatted with one of the Biden's national consultants who wanted to remain anonymous:

"A decision will be made tomorrow about who we'll encourage our supporters to stand behind if we aren't viable in a precinct. Right now, I'd guess Obama gets our support because we're more inline with his vision of foreign policy than any of the other candidates, and besides, we like him and how he's run his campaign."

"Is Biden angling for a Secretary of State position in an Obama Administration?"

The Biden consultant told Offthebus, "Well, Joe would make a great Secretary of State, wouldn't he?"

Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, "We've heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren't viable. Nothing definitive but there's a trend going on," she added with a smile. Ah, that's an understatement.

None of the campaigns I spoke with - on or off the record - are prone to hand their support over to John Edwards, who is busy today flying around the state for his final push to win - and therefore, survive until New Hampshire, where his poll numbers continue to fall far behind either Clinton or Obama.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-davis/obama-on-track-to-win-cau_b_79308.html

[youthere]

1. No, but I know some Obama supporters that have decided to caucus for Biden.

:P

[aquart]

4. Do you mean "former Obama supporters"?

Or what am I missing about the process (which I have never understood).

[youthere]

9. yes. I do..

actually they still support Obama, he's just become their second choice. If I HAVE to realign for anyone, it would be Obama though. I'm solidly for Biden, but if there's no chance for him at caucus, I may grudgingly move to the Obama camp if it will help unseat one of the other canididates I don't like so much.

[gateley]

2. No. I believe -- and hope -- Biden supporters will STAND STRONG! He's

worth fighting for!

[maximusveritas]

5. This would only be if Biden is not viable in that precinct, so it wouldn't affect

his final standing.

[earthlover]

40. While I agree with your sentiments, if a candidate is not viable, where do they go?

If Biden, Richardson join Kucinich....this would be a great opportunity for Obama.

And perhaps a lesson to the Hillary campaign that its negative tactics may have backfired. I find it telling that the Biden guy above remarked that they like the way Obama has handled himself in the campaign....

[bdamomma]

53. I hope they stand strong we really need someone now

who will pull this country together and that person is Joe Biden, no offense to Obama, but we are in some deep shit now and we need someone who knows the situation and the issues. I want to hear their plans layed out not what they will do.

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. Just because they endorse another candidate ....

in case they don't get 15% of the vote, doesn't mean that's what the voters will do. Edwards is by far the second choice for most voters, at least according to the polls.

[maximusveritas]

7. Not by far. It's very close between Obama and Edwards

in most polls for 2nd choice support. The only one that didn't show it close was the Republican Insider Advantage poll.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Biden would make a fine VP for Obama. I know the Biden folks

don't want to hear that, but realistically, it's got more of a shot of happening than the other way around.

[TeamJordan23]

8. That is my ideal ticket: Obama/Biden. nm

[gateley]

10. Love Obama to bits, but that's like President Robin and VP Batman (to steal

the analogy from another DUer)

[youthere]

12. LOL! Holy Caucus Bids Batman!

[SharonRB]

14. Exactly

That ticket would have to be the other way around to make any sense at all. The more experienced candidate should be at the top of the ticket.

[TwilightGardener]

16. But...would you object to it, if it happened?

[1corona4u]

19. Me-

I don't give it much thought, since there's not even a remote chance Biden would take a VP slot.

[TwilightGardener]

21. I wish he would--Obama/Biden is my favorite combo.

[youthere]

26. I would hope that Joe would consider the VP slot for Obama...

if Biden himself did not get the nomination. I would also hope that is by some remote chance Biden got the nomination, he would tap Obama for VP..Either way, we'd have O'Biden!

[BringBigDogBack]

37. Me too.

Obama/Biden would be terrific!

[gateley]

23. That's an interesting question. I'll have to give it some thought... nt

[Adelante]

27. It's campaign gossip, obviously

I can see if Joe thought he would gain some delegates through a deal such as Kucinich had with Edwards in 2004, it might be worth his while.

BUT I don't want Biden supporters upset, either, or upset with Obama. So in a way, given the blow back from Kucinich's limited endorsement, I hope it doesn't happen in a way.

[IronLionZion]

34. I would strongly object to it

as VP is a step down from Senate foreign relations chairman (and his other posts). Biden is an elder statesman and has seniority in the Senate. Why give that up? He wouldn't take the VP slot.

Dodd wouldn't either. I'm curious if it would be offered to Richardson, who I'm sure would take it in a heartbeat. But that ticket might seem a little too ethnic for America if you know what I mean.

[Auntie Bush]

45. good thinking and analysis.

[jillan]

38. If Biden doesn't make it -

I would either want him to stay in the Senate doing what he is doing -

or be Obama's VP. I think they compliment each other perfectly.

Of course, I am still holding out for "Joe-bama" :)

[earthlover]

41. I agree. And I love Biden!

Obama and Biden would be very strong. Biden gives strength in foreign policy and experience. Wes Clark would also do the same thing. Either would compliment Obama very well. Youth and experience....domestic and foreign policy leadership....neat combinations

[William769]

11. Richardson would never throw support behind Obama.

Biden highly unlikely.

[youthere]

13. I don't know..I think a lot of Biden supporters have Obama as their second choice.

[William769]

15. I'm not going by what supporters do.

I'm going by what the candidates will do.

[youthere]

17. Really?

I see Biden throwing his support behind Obama more than I can see him supporting any of the others.

[William769]

20. I don't see him throwing his support behind anyone for at least two Months.

[TeamJordan23]

22. Well if he is not viable in Iowa, he may tell his supporters to back Barack in Iowa. nm

[William769]

24. Yes I know that the meme from Obama supporters, but it ain't going to happen.

[phillyliberal]

18. for certain,

i think A BIDEN/Obama ticket would be fabulous. Hopefully Joe will do well in Iowa which I am anticipating.. Regardless, the two seem to be friends and I recall an exchange at the last debate which showed me that they may be pairing up in the future...

[Debi]

25. This is genius of the Obama campaign

Even if it's not true (and until the other campaigns make the announcement I'd wonder about it's frothiness :P) It looks and sounds true. Weak supporters of non-viable candidates will go to Obama because they read that that's what their candidate wanted them to do. Undecided folks will go caucus for Obama b/c he's going to end up winning anyway. Perfect campaign strategy - say it enough times and it becomes true.

[Flabbergasted]

51. kick

[Stop Cornyn]

28. That wouldn't bother me at all because it wouldn't violate any trust; Kucinich violated my trust by

endorsing a candidate who stands on the opposite side of the main issues which drew me to Kucinich.

[TeamJordan23]

36. Who would you have liked DK to endorse? nm

[Stop Cornyn]

46. I'd have prefered that he'd stood his ground and discouraged his supporters from focusing on 2nd

choices.

In the alternative, Edwards or Dodd would have been somewhat less of a disappointment.

[gateley]

29. Unless we hear something from Biden HIMSELF, or from a consultant who doesn't

wish to remain anonymous, how can we know for sure? :shrug:

[Renew Deal]

30. It's not official until you hear it from the campaign.

This may be complete BS.

[gateley]

33. Yeah. I don't know how these things work, but taking my cue from Dennis's

official announcement, I'm guessing that if others wanted their caucusers to get behind another candidate if they weren't viable, they'd certainly make a statement.

[1corona4u]

32. Yeah, I find it suspect...

because of the SOS comment...we all know what he has said, and I doubt any of his staff would make such a statement. Maybe they are just uninformed, but still.

[Renew Deal]

31. If that's true, it's lights out for Hillary.

It might go from a close race to a blow out.

[Colobo]

39. Let's hope it's true.

[jillan]

35. The Biden camp has made it clear NO DEALS.

[Bullet1987]

42. It's kinda late for the Biden or Richardson

campaigns to make a statement today. My guess is if it's true it'll happen tomarrow after either one of them lose. Unless it happens before the caucus tomarrow.

[Adelante]

43. Here is confirmation of no deal

I asked Joe Biden's spokesman, Mark Paustenbach, whether reports that Biden is encouraging his second-choice caucus goers to pick Obama were true.

"We do not have a deal with any other candidate," he said.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/biden_wont_make_secondchoice_d.php

[LWolf]

44. I sure hope not.

I don't know how many DK supporters will actually caucus for Obama. I'm a diehard DK supporter, and I wouldn't.

I would rather caucus for Biden or Richardson than Obama. Frankly, if those who don't make 15% could rally behind any viable candidate BUT Clinton/Obama, I'd be happy.

[1corona4u]

50. You know....

I just don't see it either...I have always thought that for the DK suporters, the next best thing would be Biden. But That's just the way I see it, and it may not be the DK supporter reality.

[LWolf]

54. I don't know that I could say "the next best thing,"

but I can say that he's got strengths I appreciate, and one in particular that keeps him viable for me.

He "gets" NCLB. From this educator's pov, that's big.

[Sulawesi]

47. How does this jive with the polls that show Edwards garners the most 2nd place votes?

[TeamJordan23]

48. See post # 7. nm

[Sulawesi]

49. I thought JE was +10% over BO in 2nd choices, is that an old notion?

[MethuenProgressive]

52. Not true - Just a Dirty Trick against Richardson by Obama

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3932998
Update:
"(Ed. note: For about ten minutes when this story was first published, it asserted that there was a mutual agreement between the Richardson and Obama campaigns to swap supporters in precincts where one was not viable. This, it turns out, resulted from a misunderstanding that has since been cleared up. There is no deal between the two campaigns; there is only a strategic decision -- one which makes complete sense -- on the part of the Richardson campaign about where to direct its supporters if their group is not viable in certain precincts.) "

Second Update:

Richardson Campaign Response (4.00 / 2)
Hi this is Joaquin with the Richardson Campaign and the rumor is false- there are no deals. These are typical last minute election shenanigans.

http://www.openleft.com/showComment.do ;jsessionid=3E74316838F261993E775C25CED0CEAE?commentId=24139 <---This seems to be a bad link.


Hmmm - try this link - it is down in the comments section - the link above should go straight to the comment but it isn't working:

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3032