Pressure Builds On Oklahoma Superdelegates
By Randy Krehbiel In The Tulsa World ~ What do you say when an ex-president, or a potential next president, asks for a really big favor?
If you're one of Oklahoma's Democratic "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates" -- the so-called super delegates -- you probably say you'll think about it. Six of the state's eight super delegates are uncommitted and say they intend to remain so, despite calls from party heavyweights including former President Bill Clinton.
"I don't care who you are, getting a call from the president is something," said Second District Congressman Dan Boren. Boren said he and Clinton talked for about 20 minutes on subjects ranging from former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh to the former president's recent visit to the University of Oklahoma. But the purpose of the call, clearly, was to encourage Boren to support his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid. "He told me why his wife should be president," Boren said. "I told President Clinton that I thought it was really important that pledged delegates be the deciding factor. And he agreed with me."
Nationally, Obama leads Clinton in pledged delegates, but Clinton is thought to have the advantage among the 795 unpledged super delegates.
Clinton's victory in the Oklahoma primary and support among many long-time party regulars have not prevented Obama's forces from making a play for the state's super delegates.
Boren said he is supposed to talk to the Illinois senator by phone on Friday. Others said they have heard from Obama loyalists.
"Tim Roemer, a former congressman I know, called and talked to me for about 10 minutes," said Tulsa attorney James Frasier, Oklahoma's national committeeman.
Super delegate designation is reserved for party insiders. Besides Boren and Frasier, Oklahoma's are Gov. Brad Henry, national committeewoman Betty McElderry, state party chairman Ivan Holmes, state party vice chairwoman Kitti Asberry, Democratic National Committee member Kalyn Free and DNC member Jay Parmley.
McElderry has publicly supported Clinton, while Asberry has come out for Obama.
The eight super delegates and one unpledged at-large delegate to be chosen at next week's state convention complete Oklahoma's roster of 47 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Holmes, who nominates the at-large delegate, said former President Clinton asked him who his choice was. Holmes said he told Clinton he hasn't decided. "He was pretty low key," said Holmes. "He wasn't pushy or anything."
Free said she has been contacted by both camps but is resisting offers to speak directly to the candidates. "They are definitely putting on the full-court press," Free said.
The closeness of the race for the Democratic nomination has focused unaccustomed attention on the super delegates. Since the current system was put in place in 1980, the super delegates have not played a deciding role in the selection of the Democratic Party nominee. But this time they could, and that worries Oklahoma's super delegates.
"I hope to God it doesn't come to that," said Frasier. "I don't think it would be good for the party. I want the primaries to decide the nominee. I don't want people to think fat cats in smoke-filled rooms are deciding the nominee."
"I never thought something like this would come up," said Boren. "I think a lot of super delegates (in the past) didn't even vote. Some didn't even go to the convention."
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics reported that Obama's political action committee has contributed nearly $700,000 to the campaigns of super delegates in the past three years, and Clinton's has given nearly $200,000.
Boren and Henry, however, are the only Oklahoma super delegates who have run for office during that time, and neither seems to have received contributions from the two presidential hopefuls.
Oklahoma's super delegates could be in a difficult situation if Obama goes into the convention with more delegates or an edge in total votes over Clinton. If they vote for Clinton they will be going against the national trend. If they vote for Obama, they'll be going against the voters of their state.
"You have to take that into consideration," said Boren. "Not only do I represent 25 counties in eastern Oklahoma, I represent people of both political parties."
Free said she doesn't think it will come to that. "I would be surprised," she said. "This election has taken so many twists and turns, I think it will be decided before the convention."
If you're one of Oklahoma's Democratic "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates" -- the so-called super delegates -- you probably say you'll think about it. Six of the state's eight super delegates are uncommitted and say they intend to remain so, despite calls from party heavyweights including former President Bill Clinton.
"I don't care who you are, getting a call from the president is something," said Second District Congressman Dan Boren. Boren said he and Clinton talked for about 20 minutes on subjects ranging from former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh to the former president's recent visit to the University of Oklahoma. But the purpose of the call, clearly, was to encourage Boren to support his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid. "He told me why his wife should be president," Boren said. "I told President Clinton that I thought it was really important that pledged delegates be the deciding factor. And he agreed with me."
Pledged delegates are those earned, in Oklahoma's case, through the results of the state Democratic primary. Clinton carried Oklahoma by a wide margin and picked up 24 of a possible 38 delegates, with the remaining 14 going to Barack Obama.
Nationally, Obama leads Clinton in pledged delegates, but Clinton is thought to have the advantage among the 795 unpledged super delegates.
Clinton's victory in the Oklahoma primary and support among many long-time party regulars have not prevented Obama's forces from making a play for the state's super delegates.
Boren said he is supposed to talk to the Illinois senator by phone on Friday. Others said they have heard from Obama loyalists.
"Tim Roemer, a former congressman I know, called and talked to me for about 10 minutes," said Tulsa attorney James Frasier, Oklahoma's national committeeman.
Super delegate designation is reserved for party insiders. Besides Boren and Frasier, Oklahoma's are Gov. Brad Henry, national committeewoman Betty McElderry, state party chairman Ivan Holmes, state party vice chairwoman Kitti Asberry, Democratic National Committee member Kalyn Free and DNC member Jay Parmley.
McElderry has publicly supported Clinton, while Asberry has come out for Obama.
The eight super delegates and one unpledged at-large delegate to be chosen at next week's state convention complete Oklahoma's roster of 47 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Holmes, who nominates the at-large delegate, said former President Clinton asked him who his choice was. Holmes said he told Clinton he hasn't decided. "He was pretty low key," said Holmes. "He wasn't pushy or anything."
Free said she has been contacted by both camps but is resisting offers to speak directly to the candidates. "They are definitely putting on the full-court press," Free said.
The closeness of the race for the Democratic nomination has focused unaccustomed attention on the super delegates. Since the current system was put in place in 1980, the super delegates have not played a deciding role in the selection of the Democratic Party nominee. But this time they could, and that worries Oklahoma's super delegates.
"I hope to God it doesn't come to that," said Frasier. "I don't think it would be good for the party. I want the primaries to decide the nominee. I don't want people to think fat cats in smoke-filled rooms are deciding the nominee."
"I never thought something like this would come up," said Boren. "I think a lot of super delegates (in the past) didn't even vote. Some didn't even go to the convention."
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics reported that Obama's political action committee has contributed nearly $700,000 to the campaigns of super delegates in the past three years, and Clinton's has given nearly $200,000.
Boren and Henry, however, are the only Oklahoma super delegates who have run for office during that time, and neither seems to have received contributions from the two presidential hopefuls.
Oklahoma's super delegates could be in a difficult situation if Obama goes into the convention with more delegates or an edge in total votes over Clinton. If they vote for Clinton they will be going against the national trend. If they vote for Obama, they'll be going against the voters of their state.
"You have to take that into consideration," said Boren. "Not only do I represent 25 counties in eastern Oklahoma, I represent people of both political parties."
Free said she doesn't think it will come to that. "I would be surprised," she said. "This election has taken so many twists and turns, I think it will be decided before the convention."
Labels: Oklahoma Superdelegates
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:10 AM
<< Home