Rep. Van Hollen: Superdelegates Should Take Cue From Voters

As head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Chris Van Hollen has chosen to stay neutral in the presidential contest. But, as a superdelegate, he may have tipped his hand as to which candidate he will end up supporting.

In an interview with Capitol News Connection, the Maryland Democrat echoed an argument of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign that superdelegates -- the nearly 800 Democratic Party insiders who can tip the outcome of the primary -- should take their cues from the pledge delegate tally.

"We'll have to see how this develops," Van Hollen told the program. "But I do believe that every superdelegate has to really take into consideration the judgment of the American people and the elected delegates, meaning those who are pledged, as we reach a decision." (Audio is here, toward the very end.)

Notably, Van Hollen declined to reveal whom he supported. In last weeks Potomac Primary, his home state went overwhelmingly to Obama.

As a low-key but still national Democratic figure, the congressman's support would carry with it political and symbolic significance for either candidate. But Van Hollen stressed that his priorities were on achieving a greater majority in the House of Representatives for either Democratic presidential candidate to work with.

"I made it clear early on that I wasn't going to take any position in the presidential primary," said Van Hollen. "Because we work -- we the DCCC -- very closely with both presidential campaigns, both the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Barack Obama campaign. And of course, we look forward to working with the eventual nominee to make sure that that new president has a strong Democratic majority in the House to work with. Because of that I have not yet taken a position."

Comments

[AdLib]

03:32 PM on 02/19/2008

"But, as a superdelegate, he may have tipped his hand as to which candidate he will end up supporting."

Sounds like he will be supporting whichever candidate has the most delegates, that looks right now that it may be Obama but if Hillary was to end up with the most, it sounds like he would vote for her.

I like to see so many top people in the Dem party standing up early against Super Delegates throwing the majority's vote aside. The Repubs have been having a heyday at the notion that Hillary may get SDs to veto the popular vote and the Dem party will be torn to shreds. This article is nicely reassuring that democracy won't be overturned by backroom politicians.

[Ozarks]

04:51 PM on 02/19/2008

Don't forget Hillary is now trying to reinstate Michigan and Florida delegates so they can be counted for her. It apparently does not matter to her that Obama removed his name for Michigan Ballots and obeyed Democratic Party "rule" to not campaign in Florida. And, for you Hillary sycophants, Obama did not release any TV ads in Florida. His ads where in neighboring states. Some of his ads were seen in Northern Florida only because of the broadcast range of the TV stations in neighboring states.

With this ploy, Hillary has sunk below her and Bill's awful behavior n resulting in the debacle in South Carolina. She is starting to look a lot like Bush, bending rules, violating trust and agreements to get the nomination. Sorry Hillary you can cry all you want but I will not vote for you.

[JohnFromCensornati]

02:16 PM on 02/19/2008

OK, I think we've beaten this dead horse long enough.