Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Senator, Endorses Obama

Barack Obama has picked up another superdelegate endorsement, this one from New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman. It is Obama's 14th nod from a fellow senator, meaning he has slightly edged past Hillary Clinton for those endorsements.

According to the roster kept by The Hill, that gives Obama puts him ahead of Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's 13 fellow senators.

Obama is catching up to Clinton in the number of endorsements from House members as well, according to The Hill's list. She has 84 on her side. He has 79.

Here's the Obama campaign statement on Bingaman:

Today, United States Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) endorsed Barack Obama for president, citing his ability to rise above the issues that divide us, end the war in Iraq, bring universal health care, and make America energy independent.

Senator Bingaman said, "Today, I am announcing my support for Barack Obama for president and declaring my intention to vote for him at the Democratic convention.

"Our nation faces a daunting number of critical challenges: reasserting America's leadership in the world, meeting our needs for energy independence, addressing global warming, making healthcare accessible and affordable, positioning our economy to effectively compete globally, and extricating ourselves from the war in Iraq, to name a few.

"To make progress, we must rise above the partisanship and the issues that divide us to find common ground. We must move the country in a dramatically new direction.

"I strongly believe Barack Obama is best positioned to lead the nation in that new direction."

Senator Obama said, "I'm grateful today to have Senator Bingaman's support. Senator Bingaman has been speaking out in the United States Senate on some of the most pressing issues of our time - saving our environment, fighting global warming, and making America energy independent. Senator Bingaman has been an important advocate in the energy debate, and has served the people of New Mexico for decades, giving voice to the issues that matter to families across the state. We are proud to have his support as we fight to bring about real change for families in New Mexico and across the country."

Senator Jeff Bingaman is the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He has served in the United State Senate since 1982, and previously served as New Mexico Attorney General.

Follow Off The Bus' Superdelegate Investigation.

Comments

[noliberals]

Hey,

Don't for get Hamas endorses Hussein Obamna as well, we don't want to forget them, they are Anti-American too.

[themethod]

they endorsed Hillary too, so shut up

[noliberals]

I guess that should tell you libs something/

[kenjisan]

wow, maybe you need to go decaf - such hostility

[nellie]

Do you really want Americans to base their votes on what any group in a foreign country says? Really? You want us to be vulnerable to that kind of manipulation? The correct response to this endorsement, if that's what you want to call it, is SO WHAT?

[luvthelaw]

Way to go, Jeff!!! As a New Mexican, I have been proud to have Jeff in the Senate to balance out Pete. He has always shown himself to be an honest, hardworking guy who really tries his best to help the people of his state and the people of the country.

[DebofMD]

YAY!! Go Obama!!!

[thinkb4uleapII]

Deb,

Good to see another Marylander for Obama. I recently made a matching donation to the Obama campaign with someone named Debbie from MD -- would that be you, per chance?

[BlackmaninAmerica]

Yep. I can see it now, more right wing talking points about how Senator Clinton won New Mexico, so all supers have to go for her. If that were the case, Obama should get some of her supers from Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota. You don't see that happening. The supers will make their decisions accordingly.

[steveflos]

Aren't superdelegates supposed to vote as their states went? Last time I checked, Clinton won...

[marthainaz]

They are supposed to vote for the best candidate and there is no rule about voting for their state. Clinton also has superdelegates from states won by Obama.

[luvthelaw]

New Mexico split. Hillary did win but by less than 1%, so he and Bill Richardson are following the will of the people. As of right now, some of the other Supers from here are very pro Clinton so they will both get super delegates from here. That is a reflection of the votes cast.

[EyeWantOneNation]

No - not at all. Super delegates are allowed to vote for the candidate of their choice. They do not have to follow any state of district requirements.

[irishgawdess]

EyeWantOneNation is right: superdelegates can vote for whomever they want.

The superdelegate system is one that "we the people" need to get rid of over the next four years. There are those that claim that since they are elected by the people, they should also be entrusted to respect the will of the voters. Uh-uh... they were put into place to distinctly override the will of the people if they(we) were to elect a candidate the party didn't feel had a chance to win in Nov.

As much as we all want to win, is this truly democratic? We only support superdelegates when their votes go our way. Let's consider getting rid of the electoral college as well, and go by the popular vote. This will allow a wider range of candidates to run for office.

[ObamaSuperDelegate]

I'm sure some of that first 100 that endorsed her wide load without even a single vote being cast are from some of SEnator Obama's states that he won. Now what

[iPolitics]

"With Bingaman Endorsement, Obama Takes Senate Support Lead."

Looks like their colleagues prefer Obama

[ghostofgrrrl]

Thank You Sen. Bingaman

I hope there are other StuporDelegates out there ready to state their position,
whatever it is

[jimi945]

Next?

[flyguy14222]

Obama is in serious trouble in the polls and in the public psyche. (Considering where he was.)

[kenjisan]

but those SD's keep trickling in.... drip, drip, drip....

[BlackmaninAmerica]

Another GOP talking point. He keeps going up and down in the polls. The supers are watching what is going on. This notion that because Obama is trailing in one poll over the other that he is in serious trouble is ridiculous. Only Fox News shows polls where Clinton is ahead. To equate one poll with how the general election will go is crap.

[marthainaz]

He is ahead in every possible way except for Hillary's method of giving Obama 0 for Michigan and not counting caucus states, so actually Hillary is in serious trouble. The media is framing it as trouble for him with the Clinton campaigns help. Remember, he is battling Hillary, Bill, Chelsea, McCain, and the Republicans that are scared to death of him. Even with all that, he's still winning. Go Obama and thany you Senator Bingaman.

[JerryTheAngel]

You mean like the poll in Indiana that finds Obama beating McCain by 8 points and Hillary is tied with McCain in the same poll? The latest Newsweek poll still has Obama leading Clinton nationally by 8 points. Cherry picking polls is easy to do these days. They are all over the place.

[Sparklez]

right

i looked at other polls and saw something different

Actually, it was inly ONE poll that had him down, the rest had him up

[AMERIKA]

Right on Jeff, way to be a stand up guy!

[rabprevent]

COME ONE COME ALL TO THE CLASSY CAMPAIGN. SENATOR BINGAMAN, YOU ARE A MAN OF HONOR. WE NOW NEED SEN WEBB AND A FEW MORE FROM INDIANA.

LET'S GO BOYS AND GIRLS!!!!!!

[Vantunow]

Courageous of NM Senator to step up to the plate today! He needs help more than ever.

[brabry]

Thank you Senator Bingaman. we need someone who really loves this county. I hope that people will wake up. These are people who know this man and his heart It seems that the people that really know Hillary and her true heart come to the side of Barack Obama. Don't let us down.

[gregjones]

The media diagnoses every demo....the old...young...rich....poor...educated....uneducated.... bowlers, gun toters and beer drinkers.....And somehow ALWAYS finds a way to give the advantage to Clinton. But just yesterday, the media finally began to raise the most incredible point in the whole race. HILLARY HAS LOST THE SUPPORT OF AN ENTIRE RACE OF PEOPLE !!!!!!!! Do you know how incredibly sad this fact is ? Hillary Clinton (who's husband was so loved as to have been called The First Black President) has alienated the black people of America to such a degree that there is no way blacks will support her EVER. This has nothing to do with Obama !!!! Keep in mind folks....Hillary started this campaign with 82% of the black support. But as blacks learned more about her (Goldwater Girl....Against Civil Rights Act of '64...etc.) combined with her LBJ statements and Bill's minimizing of Obama (fairy tale...Jesse won S.Carolina too...etc) blacks were shocked...and then incredibly offended by these revelations to a degree that can never be recovered. WE FEEL DECEIVED !!!! We hope that our friends of all races understand how we as blacks feel. This is the main story that needs to get out to the superdelegates. People across America are contacting the DNC 202-863-8000 to let them (and superdelegates) know that Hillary ABSOLUTELY KILLED HER ELECTABILTY. The truth is the truth !

Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack.org
(A Multi-Racial Organization...Dedicated To Truth)

[flyguy14222]

Oh brother....trying to rewrite Hillary's previous 35 years of fighting for civil/equal rights? That sounds like a desperate move by a desperate campaign.

[kenjisan]

hillary was a corporate attorney who fought against unions and workers - walmart? She defended a child molester and called the child a liar. could you please tell me where she has been for civil rights or equal rights other than her own? Go ahead, provide links of all her hard work on behalf of small people.

[steveflos]

Clinton started out with 82% of the black vote, but then Obama won Iowa and black voters felt that there was a black candidate in a weak field (Biden, Dodd, Gravel, Kucinich, Richardson anyone?) who could actually win. That's the simple reason for his rise and her fall with the black voters.

If you are shocked by her LBJ statements, you are shocked by Government 101. in the end, Presidents sign acts into laws.

The Clinton did a lot for the black community in the past. Her large number of black super delegates proves that point. If she is nominated, black voters will come back to her.

[BlackmaninAmerica]

You don't know African Americans if you think many will come back. Most will stay home. To go from 82% to 8% is a sharp drop. That is hard to overcome even by Clinton. She has lost her credibility with many African Americans because her behavior has been rather divisive.

[kenjisan]

her HUSBAND did alot - 'we are the president' is not a fact, just a state of mind.

[justobserve]

I read in books about the Clintons years. They spoke of plans for the black people but they didn't act on them when they had to fight scandal after scandal.

[Sparklez]

Yeah, her husband did

But she is different

And black people feel as though if she STEALS this election, then they wont vote for her

If you get it, get it fair and square. Dont cheat and change rules to work for YOU

Thats why many AA's will not vote for her. You're on your head if you think they will. If she does get the nomination, she has alot of

[britethere]

What? What did she do for the African Americans? Support Wal Mart in keeping the unions out?
The Clintons are to the Blacks what Larry Flint is to women. THe Blacks will NEVER come back to the Clintons...they are not as unimformed as the Clintons have counted on.

[MyGuyO]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Senator Bingaman. You have chosen the right person to endorse.

Obama’s Endorsement’s since Hillary Clinton’s win in Pennsylvania, 4/23/08
4/23/08: 1) North Carolina…29 Legislators
2) Oklahoma…Governor Brad Henry
3) Nebraska…Super delegate, Audra Ostergard
4/24/08: 1) Oregon… Super delegate/Congressman, David Wu
4/25/08: 1) Ex Ambassador to Chile… Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon (Served under B. Clinton’s Presidency & switched from Hillary Clinton )…
4/27/08: 1) Phoenix… First Vice Chairwoman/Super Delegate, Charlene Fernandez
4/28/08: 1) New Mexico…Senator, Jeff Bingaman

[shep1900]

Way to support New Mexico's popular vote!

Except Senator Clinton won New Mexico.

Oh, well, who cares about pesky rules when we're talking about The Messiah?

[PrdAmerican]

LOL...rules??

Popular vote should trump delegates
Republican Primary should replace Democratic Primary
Fl should count now
MI should count now
We should use the electoral map instead of delegate counts
Only Big states or Blue states should matter
Caucus states shouldn't matter

Rules?? A Clinton wouldn't know a rule if it jumped up and bit their nose off.

[justobserve]

How do you count MI when only Clinton is on the ballot? and FL when Obama and others didn't campaign. Of course the ex-president's wife would be well-known, right? and she "won" of course. That is why she agreed to the rules that votes will not be counted so no one campaign then she would get the most votes. Now, she demand to count. That was her plan.

[hardsun]

After Carville and Billary threw Richardson under the bus, I think it is safe to say New Mexico is now lost to the Clintons!

[Sparklez]

i thought she BARELY won that state?

Stop being salty

[steveflos]

In November, we have winner-takes-all. In a close race, there will be a recount, but whoever wins the state, wins the delegates, even if the lead is just one vote.

Clinton won New Mexico by 1% or 1.709 votes http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NMM). Close, but clear.

[colleen2]

"Oh, well, who cares about pesky rules when we're talking about The Messiah?"

Pardon me but what rules? Because Clinton lost and lost badly in my state (WA) and last I looked she had the most pledged SD's (including both senators) from Washington. If there's a 'rule' y'all should let us know or does your 'rule' not apply to caucus states...?

[BikerJim]

Hillary is the one that keeps saying that the super delegates do NOT have to follow the will of the people. And talk about chanign the rules, look at Hilllary, she is the best at that.

[steveflos]

Yeah, let Obama have it both ways...

As a Western senator, he does have to be flexible, right?