Ambinder: Obama banking Super Delegates. In other words,

[cali]

Obama has SDs on tap that he isn't making public until after MT and
SD. Here's the article:

<snip>

"Neither the Clinton nor the Obama campaign is clear what the DNC's rules and bylaws committee will do on May 31; depending upon how or whether they re-allocate delegates, Obama could wind up within to 20 to 30 votes of the nomination -- a situation rectifiable by a piddling performance in Puerto RIco, South Dakota and Montana -- or more than 100 delegates short, requiring solid performances in those states plus a few dozen superdelegate endorsements to put him over the top.

To prepare for that eventuality, the Obama campaign has, for the first time, really, begun to bank delegates. Sources close to the campaign estimate that as many as three dozen Democratic superdelegates have privately pledged to announce their support for Obama on June 4 or 5. The campaign is determined that Obama not end the first week in June without securing the support of delegates numbering 2026 -- or 2210, as the case may be."
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/obama_campaign_banks_superdele.php


I wish Obama supporters would stop bashing the SDs. It's clear that it's the Obama campaign's strategy to play it like this.

[BlooInBloo]

1. It would be interesting to find out definitively whether the delay is at Obama's direction...

or if it's wussiness on the parts of the SD's.

[Kittycat]

10. I think it's his.

He's giving Clinton time to make a graceful exit, and not offend her supporters.

[hendo]

22. Which would be a great plan

if she would bow out with honor.

[NightWatcher]

2. why not come out BEFORE the rules com meeting?

he could claim victory before they have the chance to give Hillary anything from FL or MI

[NotThisTime]

4. Strategy, he doesn't want to be seen as stealing the nom or disenfranchising those states

It has to be done this way IMHO

[Major Hogwash]

7. Have you ever been out to Montana? They've been disenfranchised for 30 years.

If the super delegates announced their endorsements a week before they voted in Montana, it wouldn't hurt their feelings any.
The last President that gave a damn about the West was Carter.

[cali]

11. that may well be true, but hillary and her supporters would

be yelling at top volume about it.

[Major Hogwash]

13. So, and you think she will go quietly into the night after June 3rd?

I think not.

But, what it does mean is that the primary season will be over.
And that pretty much ensures no more Bubba on teevee.

[Lerkfish]

15. they're preemptively yelling at top volume, in case you haven't noticed.

[cali]

17. oh, I think they could notch it up- and get a lot of MSM mileage

out of Obama breaking out a couple of dozen SDs at once before the RBC meeting and the last contests. Furthermore, I trust the Obama team knows lots more than you or I, and that they're pursuing this strategy for good reason.

[Lerkfish]

18. sorry, I'm not being clear: I approve of Obama's strategy here, I'm just sayin

the clinton campaign is preemptively yelling and whining about everything in advance at this point.

[Yael]

5. They just did...

;)

[cali]

6. Because they're negotiating reefs of angry hill supporters

and trying to avoid giving hilly an opening to argue that he's trying to shut down the remaining contests.

[Tatiana]

3. Absolutely.

A lot of SDs would love to make their support public, but have been requested not to go public at this time.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I agree with you about bashing the SD's. We're getting enough of that

from Bill Clinton these days. I trust that the Obama campaign knows exactly what it's doing, they've done a wonderful job to this point, and defeated the most well heeled political machine in recent history. I say we back off the SD's because I'm sure they read the blogs, and progressive sites just as we do.

[crispini]

9. K&R

good news!

[H2O Man]

12. Absolutely.

Thank you for this.

Nominated.

[mopinko]

14. he doesn't want to be the next *

doesn't want anyone to be able to say that the process was anything but by the book. and, i think, doesn't want to do anything that is not by the book. cuz he is that kind of guy.

[City Lights]

16. Good stuff. Thanks, cali.

Recommended.

[yodermon]

19. he wants an actual Primary election to put him over the Top.

So he'll trickle out enough SD's such that after S Dakota & Montana will officially put him over the top.
Symbolic, but important.

[Tellurian]

20. "after S Dakota & Montana will officially put him over the top." NOT HAPPENING!

Re-read the article!

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/obama_campaign_banks_superdele.php

[yodermon]

21. well that's how *i* would do it

which is of course the most important thing
;)

[Tellurian]

26. ....now theres a match!

[hogwyld]

23. I love the way the Obama campaign

is running circles around the Clintons campaign.

[papapi]

24. The SDs don't HAVE to do anything before the convention.

If Mr. Obama needs to control some SD supporters to win the nomination , so be it. I've never been one to bash the SDs. They hold the most power in a situation like this one, obviously, and rightly so. But these lengthy primary seasons need close examination for the future.

Pantsuits on sale June 4th. I want a red one. True colors. :sarcasm:

[rucky]

25. Hillary could really save herself some embarrassment...

by bowing out tomorrow, after the MI/FL rules don't shake out in her favor.

[greguganus]

27. It's about time that fat lady sings for the last time! n/t

[rug]

28. There is something creepy about private pledges being gradually revealed to manipulate voters.

How and when were the pledges made and for what other possible purpose?

What happened to open government?

[JuniperLea]

29. Yep

Some Obama supporters call it "stealing" if and when Clinton gets an SD... they would have to say the same of Obama should this happen for him.

All is fair. Well, supposed to be anyway.