Hillary Clinton: Pledged Delegates Can Switch Candidates

In an interview with Newsweek, Hillary Clinton raised the specter of pledged delegates, nominated by voters, switching their votes at the Democratic Convention.

How can you win the nomination when the math looks so bleak for you?

It doesn't look bleak at all. I have a very close race with Senator Obama. There are elected delegates, caucus delegates and superdelegates, all for different reasons, and they're all equal in their ability to cast their vote for whomever they choose. Even elected and caucus delegates are not required to stay with whomever they are pledged to. This is a very carefully constructed process that goes back years, and we're going to follow the process.

It was only a few weeks ago that the Clinton camp was accused of seeking the vote of pledged delegates. A Politico article in mid February suggested the camp was thinking about the strategy down as the convention drew closer:

"I swear it is not happening now, but as we get closer to the convention, if it is a stalemate, everybody will be going after everybody's delegates," a senior Clinton official told me Monday afternoon. "All the rules will be going out the window."

That article prompted the unequivocal response from the campaign:

We have not, are not and will not pursue the pledged delegates of Barack Obama. It's now time for the Obama campaign to be clear about their intentions.

UPDATE: Ben Smith is reporting that the Clinton's statements do not represent a change in stance on pledged delegates, according to a campaign aide.

Comments

[rzan]

The only thing Hillary has extensive experience in is lying. The Clintons ile and lie and lie and lie... and their followers just don't seem to care.

[bdl0715]

Does Senator Clinton mean that her pledged delegates are free to jump over to the Obama camp? The more she and her team keep insulting Sen Obama, she may see a wave of her delgates jumping ship.

[FogBelter]

If that is the game the Clintons want to play then I will have no problem voting for McCain in the General Election ... and with the current electoral composition in my State, the Hispanics who may break for McCain ... losing Democrats in protest to McCain may be enough to make California a Red State this cycle.

[nazgul]

Great PA Ad Video of some contributions to Hillary's campaign and Bill's library--including $10 million from Saudi Arabia--which demonstrates her true constituencies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzzJspLOxHE

[Temsi]

So, the delegates are the only ones who matter, eh?
Then why did you go through this whole song and dance of trying to get votes from the public in the primaries? Why didn't you just save your money if your tactic is to campaign one on one with the the people playing the role of delegates, and thereby circumvent that whole inconvenience of Democracy?

Hillary, it's time for you to suck it up and just go away. You're an embarrassment to the party, and to yourself.

[MartyGee]

To suggest delegates selected by primary or caucus can switch allegiance is proposterous. Senator Clinton might as well ignite an 100 megaton device if she wants to destroy the democratic party.

[Europeanview]

Has the Democratic Party completely lost it's mind? You know they are complying with Clinton's wishes even if it costs them the Presidency? William Kristol is starting to smirk and people in Europe are flabbergastedly shaking their heads.

http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/good-morning-from-europe-has-the-democratic-party-lost-its-mind/

[DAbraha]

Now what...she wants to steal the voice of the people. This Monster is dangerous not just to the democratic party but also to the United States of America. How many laws will she break if she can't honer the voice of the people in election?? Very sad!!

[tISHA]

Do you Obama supporters really think that the millions of people who voted for Hillary and believe that she will be the best President to lead our country back from the depths of hell that Bush has lead us , are just as passionate for who we believe in?? Why should we just roll over and let a young inexperienced junior senator who has ran up some delegates from RED states, who lags in the polls to beat McCain get the nomination?? Everyone has the freedom to change the mind and vote for who they think will be the best to beat McCain in the fall. And who will be the best to govern our country. It's not who has the most of anything. Why don't you understand that??

[bccity]

What is sad is the vile supporters that Obama draws. It has to say something about his character and values. You talk about Hillary who has devoted her life to helping others when people like you have absolutely nothing to support your blind support for a candidate that would seek office on the backs of the worst of our society. I mean just listen to your responses to the most accomplished Woman of our time, filled with hatred and lies. Hitler had a similar following of blind sheep that saw him as an outlet for their venom and we all know how that ended. I pray that God looks over our country and does not allow a country that so many have died defending be overcome by the worst of our people. I fought for our country as a Marine and watched my friends die only to have their memory debased by a bunch of thoughtless fools.

[DavidK08]

Shame on you!!! Monster Clinton.

[gene1138]

Hillary's not a monster, "as far as i know." hehe :)

[plages]

Did you hear that Senator Obama, your going to get even more delegates, from the ambitious monster!

[globality]

Chicago 1968 will be like a love fest compared to Denver 2008

We will rip the DNC to shreds (figuratively)

I would rather have GOP control the USA fo rthe next century rather than let her steal this from us (no figuratively)


I wil take 4 of Mc Cain over 8 of Hillary stolen years any day

[ZombieKiller]

"We have not, are not and will not pursue the pledged delegates of Barack Obama. It's now time for the Obama campaign to be clear about their intentions."

this is what Clinton does. she does something wrong, and then accuses Barack of doing it. Barack was somehow the one bringing race and gender into it. Barack was somehow the one being too negative. Barack was somehow the one being shady and deceptive. And then somehow Barack is the one trying to go after pledged delegates even though SHE is the one doing it.

These Clinton people represent old politics thats all about winning at all cost, democracy be damned. Well, I say Clinton and her sheep be damned, she is NOT going to take this election from Barack Obama.

[yourkillingmelarry]

Hillary may be talking about turning over those pledged delegates but in reality she just fell behind Barack Obama in the national polls in Rasmussen and Gallup. Obama now has a 5 point lead according to Gallup

http://www.gallup.com/poll/104878/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Recaptures-Lead-Among-Democrats.aspx

This is bad news for the Clinton campaign. They just threw the kitchen sink, enlisted SNL and changed the narrative in the media, and are coming off big wins in Ohio and RI plus a popular vote win in Texas. And yet Obama was down in the polls for a whole whopping three days. He is surviving the onslaught which is totally undermining the Clinton case he cannot win in the GE. This is getting interesting.

[TruthBeTold4us]

Does that also mean that those delegates pledged to Hillary Clinton can switch to Obama because they want REAL CHANGE, not Bush in a pantsuit voting for war and being the #1 recipient of lobbyists money in 2007?

[halyscomet]

The Clintons continue to prove that they will do ANYTHING, say ANYTHING - overt, covert, misdirection, double-talk, and out-right lie - to win. Moreover, the Clinton Arrogance goes further by inferring their superiority over the rest of us, suggesting that we, of apparently feeble minds, should readily succumb to their obvious "Jedi Mind Trick".

None should be amazed that the campaign (Hillary Clinton) that is BEHIND in the popular vote, BEHIND in the delegate count, and BEHIND in the number of states won would have the audacity to make an offer they have no position to make. THESE are Karl Rove tactics to be sure.

Honestly, I believe the public will rebuke these behaviors in coming elections.