Senator: Obama Has Dozens Of Secret Superdelegates Lined Up

Politico reports:

Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

While more than 80 Democrats in the House and Senate have yet to state their preferences in the race for the Democratic nomination, sources said Tuesday that most of them have already made up their minds and have told the campaigns where they stand.

"The majority of superdelegates I've talked to are committed, but it is a matter of timing," said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). "They're just preferring to make their decision public after the primaries are over. ... They would like someone else to act for them before they talk about it in the cold light of day."

Obama currently holds an 18-13 lead among committed superdelegates in the Senate, while Clinton holds a 77-74 lead in the House. Asked which way the committed-but-unannounced superdelegates are leaning, McCaskill -- who has endorsed Obama -- said: "James Brown would say, 'I Feel Good.'"

Just this morning, Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley announced he would be supporting Obama, while Bill George, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, came out for Clinton.

UPDATE: More superdelegates declare. Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) has announced her support for Obama right here on HuffPost, and Indiana Rep. Baron Hill will endorse Obama tonight.

Meanwhile, Marc Ambinder reports:

Chelsea Clinton just bagged a superdelegate for her mother. The youngest Clinton is campaigning today in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A few moments ago, at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, Luisette Cabanas, an unpledged superdelegate, announced her support for Clinton, giving the campaign the majority of automatic** delegates on the island.

Comments

[Mattjoe]

The corporate media/ Republican machine's relentless inclusion of Reverend Wright at every possible turn is proof positive that it"s virtually all they"ve got. If this is the only questionable association Republican's have on Obama, than Hillary's association with the Whitehouse for almost a decade and McCain"s continuance agenda, should inherently, be just as damaging. Whether she was 'influential' in her role or simply exchanged muffin recipes with other first ladies around the globe (pick a stance) than the former makes her 'biased' and prone to nepotism and political stagnancy. Friends and favors exchanged at that level in the context of GeorgeDick influenced by what Daddy did or didn"t do certainly applies to Billy and a possible unfinished Clinton agenda.

Get off the "read and therefore true" bandwagon people and determine for yourself, that what has gone before has much more to do with what will happen - rather than propagate this nonsensical apparition of Wright's unproven, intangible and prophesized negative future influence on Obama.

Again by contrast " where are the Republicans defending McCain"s" "war for oil" truth stumble or Clinton explaining her FALN appeasement? Of course, just what I thought. No, instead, I sit watching Wolf Blitztheleft on CNN faithfully resurrecting the Wright story on cue. Comical.

Wolf asking Ron Paul "don't you want a Republican in the Whitehouse?" ...imagine, Paul states "well, that's secondary to things like defending the constitution and .....(other).....issues"

No f#$%^&* kidding.

[marysville]

Then is seems to me that Ron Paul would support Obama since he talks about defending the consitiution.

[ahsaki80]

If Hillary was in Barack's shoes, she would not care so much about the less educated constituency. She's already voiced her opinion of them when she said, "Screw 'em".

This liar is trying to label Obama as an elitist yet she hasn't pumped her own gas, or driven for that matter, in years?!?!

And does Billary really want to question someone's character when she's taking centerstage in the Paul VS Clinton trial? They've got this liar CAUGHT(again) in a recorded conversation illegally coordinating a deal to get funds for her Senate campaign which could lead to HRC being indicted when proven she 'misspoke'.

UPDATE: The Judge in this case set back HRC's date to testify to AFTER the Nov election. Funny thing is the judge is a friend of Bill's...

WTF is up with main stream media NOT reporting these facts instead of loading the timeslots with trash!!!

[ahsaki80]

If Hillary was in Barack's shoes, she would not care so much about the less educated constituency. She's already voiced her opinion of them when she said, "Screw 'em". This liar is trying to label Obama as an elitist yet she hasn't pumped her own gas, or driven for that matter, in years?!?! And does Billary really want to question someone's character when she's taking centerstage in the Paul VS Clinton trial? They've got this liar CAUGHT(again) in a recorded conversation illegally coordinating a deal to get funds for her Senate campaign which could to HRC being indicted when proven she 'misspoke'.

UPDATE: The Judge in this case set back HRC's date to testify to AFTER the Nov election. Funny thing is the judge is a friend of Bill's...

WTF is up with main stream media NOT reporting these facts instead of loading the timeslots with trash!!

[steve12]

Who the heck cares if she pumps her own gas or drives herself. I care about what kind of president she or he is going to be. Does the candidate care about what I care about? Does the candidate have a strong moral character or kowtows to every special interest. Frankly, I don't think Hillary is that kind of candidate. However it's not because she doesn't pump her own gas.

[AjicNYC]

to give the nom to OBAMA is a vote against the Democratic base!!!!!

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THAT LIAR AND POLITICAL FRAUD CALLLED OBAMA

[BillyT]

AjicNYC:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

hillary supporter calling Obama liar.

Ever read about Tuzla?

Ever read about NAFTA? Mark Penn and Bill Clinton for Colombia? Clintons selling out our ports to Dubai?

Ever read about gas tax holiday (aka bend over for Big Oil, how Hillary wants to teach Nobel Laureate economists a lesson in economy)?

I guess like most Hillary supporters, you can't read....

[golferling]

There is a bunch of HOGWASH by Obamites followiing your posting. They are in for a SHOCK....have all the secret delegates you want. You are NOT going to win....REV WRIGHT and his delayed WEAK response has made him unelectable. I know a friend that roomed with Michelle Obama in college.....she hated white people.....you can see it all over her face.
he is totally UNELECTABLE....you can take the candidacy for Pres away from HILLARY...but the polls show that the blue collar workers, CAtholics, and women over 45 are going to be pissed, and they will NEVER vote for OBAMA.....they will vote for Hillary, and if she is not on the ballot, they will vote for McCain. WAKE UP DNC and that IDIOT, Howard Dean. Seat all the Fla delegates, seat all the Mich delegates, and quit discriminating against Hillary...you would NEVER do this to OBAMA..as you would be afraid of being RACIST...wake up SUPERDELEGATES....if you are behind OBAMA...than THAT is your DUKAKIS MOMENT.

[marysville]

I wonder why is Hillary behind in the numbers, did people forget to vote or what. Thank God we were not at war. This was an election with Hillary name on it. Cannot trust her to win an election that was her to win. Why is it that this ex first lady needs more superelegates to win this than an a young Black man that only made a speach? The facts.

[iburl]

to give the nom to HILLARY is a vote against the Democratic process itself!!!!!

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THAT LIAR AND POLITICAL ANIMAL CALLLED HILLARY

[marysville]

It is very funny when a Hillary supporter calling Obama a liar. But it makes sense that her supporter would be a liar too.

[EvoMan]

Obama will win NC. IN will be close. It doesn't matter though, he'll finish with the most pledged delegates. Clinton supporters, who are sooooo concerned about the disenfranchisement of a couple of states that broke the rules, will, of course, have no problem with the superdelegates disenfranchising the majority of the voters in a coup. Luckily, this won't happen.

[Ron333wood]

I think that it's interesting that Hillary would talk about disenfranchising voters when her only viable electoral path involves dismissing the voters of "small" states or states that have typically gone Republican. Why are their votes any less important than those cast in New York or California? I am so tired of political posturing and pandering (like the gas tax holiday farce) that demonstrates that voting for Hillary just gets us more of the same.

I am for Obama, but I cannot understand how one Democrat can choose to vote for McCain over whoever the Democratic nominee happens to be. I personally detest Hillary Clinton, but I will bite my tongue and vote for her in November because the alternative will result in more death and economic disaster if McCain is elected. We have already seen what the Clinton's will do in the White House, but it is slightly better than the Republican alternative. Thankfully this will all be irrelevant because Obama will be the nominee.

[Busterdawg]

Claire McCaskil's assertion is laughable. What she is doing is called spin.

"The majority of superdelegates I've talked to are committed, but it is a matter of timing"

That's right. She talks to 3 supers, 2 say they are for Obama and, well... 'nuff said, that's a majority of them, her job is done, time to go talk to the media. This from the person who advocated for Hillary to drop out of the race a month back. McCaskil is as political as they come.

[DSully]

Do the math. Clinton is losing. The supers can't force her out as she wins Pennsylvania no matter if it was far below her needed margin of victory. The supers can force Hillary out after a loss much easier as they can now justifiably say Clinton is so far behind in every measurable category that she has no chance to catch Obama.

Harry Reid has voiced similar statements.

[littleblackcat]

I recall HRC's comment about Rev. Wright; "I would have left that church!" Obviously HRC does/says anything that might be useful to her own profit at some point.
In not leaving, the Obamas showed the decency of overlooking a point of view that held onto old angers and resentments, past injustices and humiliations. Letting go might be the better way but I know from personal experience that what is best doesn't come easily. I am a white woman old enough to have been in the work force back in the 50's when a man was paid $1.65 to my $1.10 to fill exactly the SAME JOB DESCRIPTION but we women did FOUR TIMES the work! I resented that and still resent it to this day. The men will enjoy a much larger Social Security check than I will and did less to earn it.
Rev. Wright has resentments far more severe. The Obamas acknowledged the improprieties but were not so self-righteous that they turned from Wright until Wright made it too clear that they could not just excuse the behavior. I think that compliments Obama's loyalty and compassion. One doesn't turn from your friends until they turn on you. Anyone who has friends has seen times when the point of view was so different that it could not even be discussed without tempers flaring.
The bushit "administration" values loyalty to where it costs innocent lives and national treasure and some fools still applaud. Double Standards, anyone?

[marysville]

Hillary do not go to Church. I wonder if she believe in a God.

[barryscott]

I hope that those who get excited about polls understand their inherent unreliability.
First, asking 600-1200 individuals questions is hardly representative of the tens of thousands for whom they are speaking.
Second, people don't alway respond honestly.
Third, for the match-ups against McCain, November is a long way off and we haven't yet begun to fight.
Last, exit polling is really sketchy, and it's a shame that so much is made of race, age, and other data in the analysis of the process.

I'm as guilty as anyone of checking the Gallup Daily tracking poll and getting excited. And it's true that a greater N is in play when we look at multiple polls, but what matters is what happens when the results are in.

[5thGenDem]

I suspect they're "secret" because they're not ready to commit. Good for them! The way Obama keeps shooting himself in the foot it's a good thing we haven't handed him the nomination just yet Of the two, there should be no dispute which is the most vetted. Don't you wonder how Obama would fare today in the states he carried before his San Francisco gaffe (and his lame attempts at explaining what he meant) and the Rev. Wright situation? What more might we learn before the convention?

[morticia]

we might learn that she`s a COMFIRMED LIAR AND A CHEAT!! a republican newsreporter on wtkk
was on the ground in PA. reporting to everyone that Hillary supporters were PAYING people to vote foe her.His name is Michael Graham. this is true.She now wants to give CITIZENSHIP to the people of GUAM!! IS THERE NO LENGTH SHE WILL GO TO WIN?? this is SSSSOOOOO DESPERATE!!!!!!!

[steve12]

The people of Guam already have American citizenship. The only question is whether they can vote for President. I think they should be able to do so and I'm an Obama supporter.

Guam is a territory of the United States. It is a very small island with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants. The military controls almost a third of its land within seven military bases.

The people of Guam volunteer to fight in our wars, serve in our military, and have a long and proud history of serving the United States. I think that giving them the right to vote in the presidential election is the least that we can do.

[5thGenDem]

Thank you SO much for letting us know what "a republican newsreporter on wtkk" said about Hillary! Any more tidbits from "republican news reporters" you'd care to share with us?

[littleblackcat]

Obama doesn't "keep shooting himself in the foot", the so-called news media do it for him. As has been pointed out, john mcinsane WENT LOOKING for the endorsement of that fat creep, hagee, who has called the Catholic church "the great whore" and a dozen other equally vituperous comments about everything from homosexuals to AIDS and NOT ONE DAMNED WORD HAS BEEN HEARD ABOUT IT!! I am not a believer and read with a "bitter" laugh the words of Ghandi: "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." which is on many bumperstickers here in New England. Things that don't have a thing to do with the problems we are facing get ballyhooed from breakfast to supper and the REAL concerns don't get a look-in. We all need to grow up if we are going to insist on people representing what the AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT instead of what the super-rich dirt bags want. JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND WORKS, HONESTY, FAIRNESS, OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.

[5thGenDem]

Obama apparently went 20 years without faulting Wright for his racist statements and that's not "shooting himself in the foot?" And what makes you think the media will give Obama a pass on future "foot shots?"

[Dan1967]

CHECK OUT THESE POLLS: BARACK OBAMA IS A MUCH STRONGER CANDIDATE AGAINST MCCAIN.

Barack Obama does much better in general election polls then Hillary in states like Wisconsin, Oregon, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, and Colorado. Obama is leading McCain in all of those states. Hillary is losing to McCain in all of those states, and she is tied with McCain in Minnesota.

If Barack Obama wins Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado he could lose Ohio and Florida and still win the general election 271 electoral votes to 267 electoral votes. I think that Bill Richardson would be a great VP choice for Obama. He would help Obama win all of those states and Florida. Check out the general election polls here: WWW.POLLSTER.COM (type it in if the Link does not work).

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND LETS GET A DEMOCRAT WIN IN NOVEMBER!

[mjc]

Abbey4ever and Dortmunder, you may not be able to recognize a real Democrat, being such devoted disciples of saint Obama. Each political party has a set of issues and positions on solving those issues which best represent the party. You'll not be able to find anything of Obama's there for sure because he really isn't very issue oriented. My personal view of Obama is that he isn't a Democrat; he is a demagogue, and if there is a party formed to include him and his non-ideas he'll run on it.

[AllenD]

Whenever you have to go for the "real Democrat" card, you might as well stamp loser on the middle of your forehead. You sound just like those rightard Bush supporters who always play the "real American" card.

[NtFourSale]

How does one define a Democrat? It was the party of Civil Rights and also the party of the KKK. Your post sounds like you disapprove of critical thinking. It was the lock-step, fall-in-line members of the Republican Party that gave us Bush, a man no one would accuse of original thought.

Please don't define a Democrat for me.

[mjc]

Think you are exactly the person who needs the definition. Yes, after the Civil War the Democrats, all most all in the South at that time, did implicitly support the KKK and were very racist in their attempt to put the blacks in what they thought as their place. 100 years later the Party did promote civil rights thanks to efforts of such presidents as JFK and Lyndon Johnson and because of a man named Martin Luther King who inspired them both. The Democratic Part has never been a UNITED organization. It has a big tent and there are many varying points of view. The Republican Party, on the other hand, now has taken over most of the South as the majority party. And that doesn't mean they were or are in favor of civil rights and fair and equitable treatment. Truth be know, Cheney gave us Bush and the neocons then came out of the woodwork to justify his presidency, but of course it wasn't truely Bush's presidency alone because Cheney was the working guy.

[NtFourSale]

Your Clintonian arrogance is astounding, which is why your candidate will not be president. Her holiday gas tax cut, and now a promise to Guam for a future vote in the General, is classic demagogue material.

Obama has the courage to choose right over popular.

Hope you have room in your tent for that.

[justShareandbeNice]

I suspect your "personal view" is fueled by very a very impersonal medium: the television. Obama is a demagogue. Whatever. Perhaps you should turn off your tv and think for yourself.

If you can't see the Obama represents, upholds, and fights for values that match those of the democratic party, then I think you have your brain twisted in a pretzel.

[mjc]

Obama matches only the values of the Democratic Party that he believes support his candidacy or the ones that he can point to for the liberal/lefties in the Party. Social justice is something most Democrats support and that means leveling the playing field for all who need health care or are seeking jobs. He advocated bringing the troops home from Iraq, without actually seeming to look at hows and whens. I don't see anything on his web site that really supports plans such as those. Perhaps you are watching too much tv. Resorting to name calling doesn't make you look very attractive, either.

[RRH]

Claire Mccaskill? WOW I didn't know she translates to dozens. I doubt very much Obama has dozens waiting in the wings. Who knows how many will go to Clinton who's numbers have risen, while Obama's dropped. It's about electability stupid! The latest polls show Clinton in a hypothetical beating McCain. Hillary is strong and not a whiner like Obama so I wouldn't be so quick to run with one person and covert her into a dozen. Bull!

[PaigeInPhilly]

I believe there have been no folks who have jumped the Obama boat for the Hill float.....

Didnt just 2 leave her the other day??...

IF that happened to Obama...it would have been SPLASHED all over the media by now.

nice try.

=0)

[ntmessage]

Hopefully they see this obvious fact:

General Election-------McCain-Obama------McCain-Clinton
National--------------------------Tie-----------------Clinton +2.9
Pennsylvania--------------Obama +1.2----------Clinton +6.8
Ohio -------------------------McCain +3.4----------Clinton +5.4
Florida ----------------------McCain +9.0----------Clinton +1.7

Obama can only get Reagan Democrats and Latinos within a 90 mile radius of Chicago. Even after spending a quarter of a Billion Dollars.

Their reaction is not ignorant, dumb or holding to their religion or guns. Frankly, they have what a liberal ivy leagues education sometimes ignores. Common sense, perspective and judgment. Not to mention an innate ability to spot BS.

Dean and his management of the DNC have repulsed many Democrats who now have decided to vote for McCain this go around if they cannot vote for Clinton.

[marysville]

I wonder what the polls said about Hillary and Obama in 2007. Who was to win then turn you TV off.

[OfficialA]

Dean's management of the DNC has given this North Carolina Democrat a shot at having his vote count for the first time since 1976. I'm sure many red state Democrats feel just like I do. Dean's approach, the 50-state strategy, is the only hope the Democratic Party has, but your candidate continually suggests we don't matter while pandering to red state Republicans.

I guarantee you that if we don't matter this time, the Democratic Party won't ever matter again, ever.