Obama Starts Off The Day With Superdelegates

Indiana Rep. Joe Donnelly endorsed Obama this morning, moving Barack's gap to the nomination 149 delegates. The press release is below.

UPDATE: New Orlean Mayor Ray Nagin, another superdelegate, has also endorsed Obama (statement below). Also, the Washington Post reports that one of Clinton's pledged delegates from Maryland has announced that he will support Obama at the convention.

UPDATE: Former DNC Chair (and Colorado governor) Roy Romer makes three.

UPDATE: Anita Bonds, the chairwoman of D.C.'s Democratic party came out, rather unexpectedly, for Obama late last night.

CHICAGO, IL -- Today, Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly endorsed Barack Obama for President, citing his commitment to working families and building a real coalition for change:

"Today, I am pleased to announce my support for Barack Obama. At a time when too many Americans have lost faith in their government, Senator Obama can move us beyond the politics of stalemate and gridlock that has kept us from meeting the monumental challenges of our time: our dependence on foreign oil, a health care gap that leaves tens of millions uninsured, the steady deterioration of our manufacturing base, and an economy that is not working for working people.

The Democratic Party's strength comes from its core commitment to the American Dream and from a coalition that is ideologically, economically, geographically and ethnically diverse. Barack Obama will stand with working families while building that coalition so that we can change this country, and that's why he's the best choice for America."

Barack Obama said, "I am honored to have the support of Congressman Joe Donnelly. Joe has brought an independent, principled, and pragmatic voice to Washington that is more focused on getting results for Hoosier families than scoring political points. As President, I look forward to working with Congressman Donnelly to build bipartisan majorities to create jobs, make health care more affordable and accessible, and to give our veterans the care and support that they have earned."
Donnelly is the 282nd superdelegate to endorse Barack Obama, who is 149 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Comments

[Mammamia]

Obama and Clinton supporters should stop taking this race so personally. Both candidates are excellent options, their policies are 90% the same and both Obama and Clinton say that they want to work together to unify the party. Can’t you all see that you are being manipulated by the media and are falling right into the hands of the Republicans and not to mention, Rush Limbaugh? You are giving them everything they could have hoped for in an election that should be impossible for them to win with John McCain, a volatile candidate who wants to use the same old policies of the current president, who also has the lowest approval ratings in history. C’mon dems – you need to come together!!

[KarateKid]

This message should be read by the Clinton backers; we're not the ones whining.

[AdamX]

Thier policies are NOT the same. Hillary lies. She likes bombs, war, cheating and stealing.

[Ivar]

Mammamia, I do not agree with you that both candidates are excellen options. Hillary is a vet of sorts. She was under sniper fire in Bosnia. .... She said it not Obama. When in fact she was not. She is anti gun, yet she says she is an excellent marksman (woman) because her father use to take her hunting. She is a two fisted drinker(or was in PA) & aparently can drink many under the table. We have had eight years of a boozer in the white house. She would "obliterate " Iran.(Her words) I agree with you that both Obama and clinto say that they want to work together to unify the party. Yet Clinton continues to do things to tear the party apart. By any yardstick, she is beaten but continues to tear the party apart, and goes deeper in debt. (not her personally but her campaign. Is this good judgement?) So, your comment "Both candidates are excellent options" as if there is no difference in them just is not so. Obama is a statesman.­Clinton is a street fighter who will stop at nothing (including a 20 million dollar debt) to get the power of the white house because she wants the power. Obama wants to lead this country. I see vast differences in them. I agree we need to come together, which can happen if she will stop her grab for power.

[Gma11]

Interestingly, I remember a James Clavell novel I read once about the Iranian revolution (excellent, and long), "Whirlwind­." The mullahs eventually realize that they can influence the U.S. through manipulation of this very fact - that we are so individualistic and we take things so personally. It is one of our great strengths - and one of our great weaknesses.

[Ohioliberal]

Wow, these Hillary supporters are definitely bitter as they cling to their over 50's ovaries, their guns and their religion.

[Mogamboguru]

Uh-hu... - This WAS below the belt. Try to be a little nicer, will you? For you don't know, who you will meet down in the doorway in the dark...

[missbh]

I am tried of all the accusations!!! Will one Clinton supporter please give me an example of Obama being a sexist. One VALID EXAMPLE. Just one. Not a twisted one, but a real one. While you're at it, give an example of Obama being a racist. Not Wright, but Obama. One valid example. One that doesn't include that clearly twisted "typical white person" about his grandmother. If you got any good sense you knew what he meant.

[Megaflow]

Well said. It seems like a lot of people think they can just make stuff up and say it, or just repeat any accusation without checking to see if there are any "facts" to back it up. I guess it comes from years of idiots like Drudge and Limbaugh doing just that and getting paid for it. Hopefully, people are starting to wise up to the idea that an accusation does not create a fact out of thin air.

[eXcommunicate]

"Facts" are a tricky thing - they tend to skew liberal. ;)

[CocteausTwin]

I bet the only one they can come up with is "he was born a man."

[Vern58]

Good on Joe Donelly! He has proven a highy efficient and worthwhile Representative from Indiana 2nd
Now if our own Pete Visclosky of Indiana 1st (our own House member) would declare for Obama (Obama won this district handily) i would really be satisfied- but he is waiting.

[ilcapo]

howard wolfson must be dizzy from all the spinning,it s over howie

[DRaymond]

The real test will come tomorrow, Hillary is likely to get a blowout win in West Virginia. if the blowout win does not provide enough cover for any superdelegates to come out for her tomorrow then nothing will and Obama will get every superdelegate from here on.

The rest of the endgame will play out like this...mos­t of the the FL and MI superdelegates will also commit or flip to Obama. That will reduce or eliminate any damage from the elected delegates and Obama will then make a nice speech about unity and ask to allow them to be seated.

[JackND]

But, unlike most primaries so fat, there is little doubt as to what will happen in this one.

So what qualifies as cover...a 90-10 win?

[AndrewInToronto]

Johnson's position is a smack in the face to democratic accountability: it is not his choice or place to try to swing pledged delegates. His only choice is to be a pledged delegate or not, and if not, then the Clinton campaign can find someone who will represent all those who voted for her in Maryland.

[Leslie123]

I agree that this was a mistake. I am an Obama supporter, but I feel that if Johnson was a pledged delegate, he should not have switched. I think there is a difference between pledged and super delegates and once you pledge and are elected, it should remain so until the person drops out.

[JackND]

I agree. So take it up with Hillary, who advocated and championed this behavior.

Obama never did.

[Gma11]

I tend to agree. And yet it was Hillary's campaign that suggested Obama supporters were fair game and tried to get them to change to her. I don't remember the sources, but I'm sure they could be found fairly easily with a news search.

[AndrewInToronto]

You are totally correct and it has been more than once; she repeated the claim that 'the rules of the game' did not require pledged to remain pledged.

I should say that I'm a huge Obama supporter and would vote for him were I an American citizen. It is in part his deep sense of integrity which stirs me; his respect for everyone really, with the occasional lapses we all have (the odd sarcastic remark against Clinton); his consistent message that this election must be about issues which affect Americans (and even all of us with global warming) not flag pins, smears-by-­associatio­n, stoking bigotry...­. For me Obama challenges us as he challenges himself: to rise to common cause and does so (as he has said) as an imperfect messenger. A truly amazing person.

[Mrwilliams2u]

O's Got the MO

[NoahVail]

You Blue Dog Democrats and Yellow Dog Hillary supporters should view this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7397247.stm

[Nolewoman]

Cute.

[Gma11]

LOL!!

[abby4ever]

What a great way to start the day: superdelegates everywhere.

[Peddler]

I think it would be wise for Hillary to go to the nearest tavern and have a few "boiler-ma­kers." The party is over......­and by the way Hillary...­.......hav­e one for me.

[McPander]

Yes with a few "Hard Working Americans, White Americans".

[gallo146]

Is Bill Clinton next superdelegate to switch and triangulate?

[SMP]

It is my guess that the supers were already in place.....­just coming out gradually to allow Hillary some dignity in exiting the race, also to allow her followers to gradually get use to the fact that their candidate lost fair and square.

Remember all.......­..........­..This has been a historical democrat primary...­..........­.first woman..fir­st black/white candidate

[EspritDeVoltaire]

First really over the top racism in a national Democratic race since Lyndon Johnson pushed through the Civil Rights Act over the resistance of southern Congressmen in his own party

[Gma11]

I've voted since Johnson - seems to me race has been an issue in every presidential election since.

[KarateKid]

What is going on that we didn't already know? Obama's team leaders, David Axelrod, David Plouffe and Bill Burton never panicked, never strayed from their mission statement, never exhibited histrionics or melodrama, always stayed focused.

Contrast that with the rantings of Terry McAuliffe, Mark Penn and Howard Wolfson.

Who you surround yourself with is the ultimate sign of leadership. Obama has what it takes, folks. And it showed.

[Gma11]

They have remained COOL. No Drama!

[AMDillon04]

Here, Here! So true!

[dentuso]

The OBAMA contribution game! (It's kind of like a drinking game, but with no hangover.)

The rules: Every time you see certain words on any of these blogs as used by a Clinton or McCain supporter, you make a contribution to Obama's campaign. They won't stop, but knowing that Obama's campaign is flush with beans is going to drive them nuts!

Here's the chart. Participate if you can, PLEASE!

WORD CONTRIBUTION
muslim 5 cents
racist 5 cents
Wright 10 cents
Ayers 10 cents
disenfranc­hise/revot­e 5 cents
hamas 10 cents
unelectable 10 cents
weather underground 5 cents
black church 5 cents
Kool aid/cult 5 cents

Keep your own tally through the honor system, and contribute at the end of each month.

Please cut and paste whenever and wherever you can.

[SMP]

you forgot....­vote 4 Mccain

[puffhost]

I'm starting my tally today! I am also adding a dime for "Messiah"

[Bigbrain]

Elitist and bitter should be added to the list....Oh­, and Hussein

[KillTheMessenger]

I've been playing that game all along. Every time there was an unfair article, some lies, over the top accusations, I gave them $25. If I got angry, I gave $50. If I felt personally offended $100. On occasions I felt a need to give $250. Needless to say, I never managed my anger better.

[dentuso]

Okay... we're now at

Elitist
Bitter
Hussein
Liberal
Socialist
Messiah
muslim 5
racist 5
Wright
Ayers
disenfranc­hise/revot­e
hamas
unelectable
weather underground
black church
Kool aid/cult

Is that everything?

[jedonspring]

Funny !

All I gotta say is BINGO !