Superdelegates Unswayed By Clinton's Attacks

Throughout their contentious debate on Wednesday, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton tried again and again to put Senator Barack Obama on the defensive in a pointed attempt, her advisers say, to raise doubts about his electability among a small but powerful audience: the uncommitted superdelegates who will most likely determine the nomination.

Yet despite giving it her best shot in what might have been their final debate, interviews on Thursday with a cross-section of these superdelegates -- members of Congress, elected officials and party leaders -- showed that none had been persuaded much by her attacks on Mr. Obama's strength as a potential Democratic nominee, his recent gaffes and his relationships with his former pastor and with a onetime member of the Weather Underground.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[johnie2xs]

With all due respect, to both Bill and Hillary, I think the time has come to pack it in. I'm not going to go through a lengthy dissertation to explain my thinking, sufficed to say, the vetting has gone on long enough. It is my feeling that Obama is the one who is going to motivate the numbers of voters necessary to overwhelm the Republican machinations we all know are coming.Our voting process is full of holes and they intend, and will, make every attempt to subvert the process. We, as Democrats, perpetually delude ourselves in thinking that being right is enough. I hate to say this but the electorate is just not that smart. By our continued attempts to re-educate them during the election cycle has proven itself to be a fool's errand again, and again. If this education process is not done, in between times, it's fruitless to try to do it during the run-ups to elections. Letting Barack have the nomination is by no means a loss for Senator Clinton. On the contrary, she will be well placed and capable to re-invigorate, the Senate portion of the Legislative branch, to it's rightful prominence. I know that as one person, especially at my lowly level, I have very little sway but I truly hope what I say is taken seriously. Logic and good critical thinking is not to lone purview of the rich and powerful.
Please give this some serious thought.

[Thatcher]

If your state has already voted - tell your superdelegates to "Sh*t or get off the pot"! We don't care who you endorse - just do it! http://tinyurl.com/6njr7e

[Thatcher]

Complete rundown of delegate predictions for the next 10 Democratic Primary contests ... Clinton wins more delegates in the 10 - but is it enough?

http://thedeadguy.com/2008/about-the-delegates

[happydayz]

And I think HIllary is also damaged goods from this debacle of a primary, which is why we Dems need to start talking very seriously about a 3rd candidate alternative. I'm not saying BO or HIllary CAN'T win, but it is going to be a nightmare.

[aquarius2001]

A 3rd party candidate would be the nightmare and would surely split the dem vote and hand a win to "100-Year-War-McCain"

[PioneerKing]

RALPH NADER 2008

[foreffectivegovernment]

The Republicans didn't want Senator Obama to be the Democratic nominee because he has shown to be Teflon coated and an unknown. Now that his Teflon has been scratched and more and more is revealed about him, the more they will help him to become the Democratic nominee. The true role of the Obamacans has been revealed. Those are the people who were insulted by his San Francisco remarks, not the Democrats in Pennsylvania. They are now justified in their return to the Republican Party in the general election.

Senator Barack Obama can't win the general election without them and the superdelegates better realize that.

[happydayz]

Here is an Obama supporter, up to now, and if I was a superdelegate I would officially switch to "undecided" over all of the baggage pouring out of his closet. I'm not sure what to think. I'm not crazy about Hillary, but I'm very very concerned that enough stuff is coming out about BO that November will be a disaster. BO supporters that can't see this clearly are in denial. I am as of today no longer officially an Obama supporter and now officially *undecided* again in this primary. I'm thinking that some independents and heartland Dems, and many R's will defect from Barack, not because of any one thing, but Ayers and "bitter" may be the last straws for many. I'm hopeful that it will go to a 3rd ballot at the convention and they will decide on a 3rd/compromise candidate such as Gore, Edwards (my preference) or Dodd. Otherwise, we may be toast in the GE. I know Obama supporters will scream at me, but I'm keeping it real. Plus as a biracial person, I don't want to be cringing for months as they tar and feather him (or Billary for that matter) with race stuff in the fall. Obama, this former precinct captain for you is very, very concerned for your prospects...you may want to think about if you want to put yourself and our party through what will likely be the ugliest general election ever.

[aquarius2001]

Baggage??!!!???!! If you think THIS is bagge just wait until the Repubs ship in all of Hillary's!!! And what's so sad is that thus far, there hasn't even been a need to lay out all the dirt she and Bill are/have been involved in because so far she's been busy destroying her own campaign!!

[happydayz]

Yes she has run an atrocious campaign. BUT her mistakes while many have not been of the perceived magnitude of BO's....Wright, patriotism, Michelle, bitter, Ayer, yada yada yada. These, plus his brown skin I'm worried will sink him in the fall. Billary's baggage will be drug out too, and she has damaged herself with her poorly managed campaign, which is why a compromise candidate makes sense. I'm praying that the Supers agree to save us from a painful GE.

[lisakaz]

WTF are you talking about? Only those vs. Obama have been upset by his "bitter" remarks. It hasn't even caused change in PA, as least not apparently so.

[sunu20]

I notice that the Clinton Camp is slipping the new terminology they coined into as many statements as possible. I'm referring to "automatic delegates". That reminds me of Bush naming things; "Clear Skies Initiative" that allowed more pollution into the air.

I wonder if they both use the same shade of lipstick on their pigs?

[aquarius2001]

I noticed that too. (How lame).

[V4Vigilance]

CRAP!

I WANT them to be swayed, swayed to endorse Obama and end this fiasco.

OBAMA 08

[RanTheMan]

Next from the Hillary camp: The earthquake was Obama's fault.

[aquarius2001]

LOL

[notdogmatic]

The superdelegates have a duty to reign in Clinton negativity.
The supers are probably the only people who can influence the Clintons' behavior. Because Clinton desparately need the supers, now and in the future, the Clintons will listen to them.The supers role, supposedly, is to use their savy and influence to benefit the party. H.R.'s Obama bashing clearly hurts the party. More supers need to bluntly tell the Clinton's that if the negativity continues they will publicly endorse the more restained candidate.

[happydayz]

What Hillary is throwing at BO is nothing compared to what the GOP has in store, trust. We need to stop complaining about it, unless the attacks are blatant lies, anything is fair game and good preparation (albeit mild) for blowtorch the Repugs will wield as soon as we have a nominee.

[nativeeyes]

Hillary's videos was a paid ad for her campaign.. Now she's saying that these people are not bitter..

LOL!


And these bitter people are caring about a FLAG PIN? WTF!!

Are they rich hicks that care about FLAG PINS? Which is it?

I am lost and I am bitter, GAS AT $3.90 A GALLON. Get my gun,and a flag pin!!!


I am feeling bitter, horny and a bit Patriotic..

[danceswithyids]

Who cares about the super delegates being swayed
BO is running for the general now, who are we kidding.

The debate proved once and for all that Obama though I wish he would, will not be elected in the general.
Obama wants to be a different type of politician but he isn't willing to play the game in order to change the game.
He is basically a salesman and is forgetting rule number one, the customer is always right.
If all it takes to get enough of the independents and repubs to sway to Obama, is for him to wear a flag pin, then wear the damn pin.
I get what you are doing, but others don't and isn't getting elected what we're trying to do here?

If Obama was selling a car, and the customer said I like bose stereo, shouldn't he give them the bose stereo rather than try to convince the customer that the bose isn't important to them. It obviously is important to them and they are the one doing the buying. He can't sell the car without them.
Close the deal

[Aleka]

LOL. Does it ever occur to you that YOU are the percentage of people that excuse for a debate was aimed at?

The ones that actually think tabloid politics is real?

[danceswithyids]

You are truly a genius
I'm saying other people do vote on these things we don't care about, so lets also appeal to them so we can win

[Syco]

IF your willing to play the game then your not changing anything.

[danceswithyids]

Really
Or once you have played and reached the position to institute and promote change
you can actually make the biggest difference.
You are never going to get anywhere if you don't win

How has all the change Nader wants going?

[Syco]

yours not changing anything if you play by their rules.
Just because everyone cheats doesn't mean you should too.

[leftoflennon]

'course they're not..

We Dems aren't as DUMB as Billary likes to think we are

[Mercedes]

One more thing...

What the hell was George Stephanapolous doing at that debate? When I saw him sitting there I KNEW that there was something going down. He worked for Bill Clinton in the White House, so why was he even at the debate?

He should have excused himself from being there because it surely was a "conflict of interest". I've watched him a few times on TV and I KNOW that he's trying to do anything to get Hillary in the White House so he can get back there, too.

Hypocrite ABC, for allowing this to happen!

[Tropiholic]

Hillary's desperate last ditch attempts to steal the nomination from Obama only make her look worse! Keep it up.

[SuiginTou7]

They needed a court jester, Hey, George, wear this hat with the bells and prance about. The debate held that much integrity.

[JudgeCrater]

A whole lotta' nothing going on with Rasmussen's poll numbers. ABC = Anything But Credible

Pollster Dates N/Pop Clinton Obama Undecided
Rasmussen 4/17/08 730 LV 47 44 9
Rasmussen 4/14/08 741 LV 50 41 9
Rasmussen 4/7/08 730 LV 48 43 9

[LeftLeanWing]

These Rasmussen polling numbers are for Pennsylvania Only ,,

[Advocate2008]

The Superdelegates should be swayed by Obama's associations with Tony Rezko, Nadhmi Auchi, and William Ayers. If the Republicans use these associations, Obama will lose in November. These are/were CLOSE associations.

[jdkjdk]

You mean like Hillary Clinton Board Membership with union busting Walmart?

[Advocate2008]

Most Americans have heard about Hillary boards participation.

Rezko has been characterized as a "slum lord". It seems that many of the properties he owned were in Obama's district and Obama had a close personal association with him. An African-American leader having a close personal relationship with a person who operates substandard housing where poor blacks, hispanics, whites, and asians-americans live. How do you think that would play to most Americans in an organized campaign effort?

Most Americans also have not heard about the fact that Tony Rezko was reportedly in Syria before his arrest. Rezko claimed to have been finacially broke before he left the country. After he returned, it was discovered that he had at least $3 million dollars some of which he apparently used to purchase the property next door to Obama and subsequently sold part of it to Obama for less than apparent market price. Most Americans do not know that the money came from Auchi. Most Americans do not know that Auchi, a business associate of Rezko, is barred from entering the country. He was reportedly an associate of Saddam Hussein. Have I stated all of this correctly? How do you think a campaign using this would play to most Americans?

I have voted for Democratic candidates for over 40 years and I want the Democratic Party to win - Not lose. I stand to be corrected on any information I have provided. Do I have any reason to be concerned?

[RanTheMan]

How sad it is to watch otherwise intelligent people degrading themselves by using Rovian smear tactics on Obama.

Advoc, keep clinging to those memes, right up until Hillary concedes, and Obama goes on to mop the floor with McCain.

[LeftLeanWing]

No one cares about these associations but the Pundits that need to drum up some new scandal and the right wing which were not going to vote for a Democratic anyway...

Most of the others are going, So What ?

Does McCain want the whole Keating 5 scandal to be raised again. ( he was one of the five ). ?

[Aleka]

LOL! By your logic and definitions, you and I are BBF's!

[CostaMesaJoe]

So says Hannity.....hmmm.....why is he so scared of Obama?

[SuiginTou7]

If that held any truth (which it doesn't) Hillary would be beating Obama over the head with it, Another handful of straws.

[JudgeCrater]

If wishes were fishes....