Obama Adds To Superdelegate Tally

Obama has pulled in the endorsement of Washington State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz this morning. Pelz told his supporters, "that Sen. Obama will be our nominee, and that it is time for us as Democrats to begin the final stretch of this historic 2008 campaign to take back America. It is time to unify our party around one candidate."

Also, California assigned five add-on superdelegates this weekend (these are superdelegates who are traditionally allocated according to the popular vote results for the state). Reflecting the February 5th results, Clinton picked up three delegates, while Obama picked up two.

UPDATE (1:00 PM): Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia has endorsed Obama today, a powerful statement given Obama's recent loss in the state. Byrd said in his statement that "Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support."

UPDATE (2:00 PM): Another superdelegate, Kansas Democratic Chair Larry Gates, has endorsed Obama:

"Senator Obama inspired record numbers of voters to turn out to the Kansas caucuses, which not only strengthens our Party but also the whole political process. He is the best candidate for Democrats to stand behind as we work to take on John McCain - who supports the war in Iraq and Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans - in November.

"While I have decided to endorse Sen. Obama, I think it is important to note that Sen. Clinton is a strong leader who ran a passionate campaign. Her contribution to the national discussion has been invaluable and will continue to be important as we're working together to elect Sen. Obama to the White House," Gates said.

UPDATE (4:30 PM): Obama has announced two more superdelegates, both from Alaska:

The Obama campaign announces that Alaska superdelegates Cindy Spanyers and Blake Johnson are with Obama.

It's a state where the GOP is in trouble, and where you can come up with a far-out scenario giving Obama a shot.

Comments

[Marrob]

Does he know he endorsed Obama??

[111]

Sen. Byrd endorses Obama and Karl Rove endorses Hillary - says it all doesn't it?

[Noelle]

I never had any doubt that Senator Byrd would endorse Obama. I cried watching him stand all alone on the Senate floor trying to stop this country from attacking Iraq. He made me cry a second time when he gave his Micheal Vick speech. He was so hurt by the idea of the pain and suffering of something so helpless. Someone close to Senator Byrd later explained that he had lost his wife and all he had left was his dog and possibly some ghosts of his past that he is now struggling with. I think everybody can guess what those are. Robert Byrd has become an extraordinary man.

[TrueIndy08]

I am completely by Sen Byrd... glad he came onboard, but really really shocked!!!!

I think he should watch out though, those backwards WV voters might take great offense to voting for the colored guy and lash out at him....

remember, somewhere around 25% said they voted based on skin color...

[brent777]

Whooooa... Am I dreaming? Is this a misprint? Is someone messing with my head? Does this mean the end is near? I don't know how to digest this information. I wanna believe, I think I'll go have a drink an absorb this information.

[ccmd]

Video photoshow of Barack Obama's amazing Portland rally...

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Barack_Obama_Portland_Oregon_City_of_Blinding_Lights

[Ariesjill]

Talk about the potential of age FOSTERING , not diminishing a crescendo of heroism & a true dynamic during all of life! This gentleman's metamorphosis into the light over decades should be the subject of a major motion picture.
He is one of my heroes....­and long may he live and thrive and contribute.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Who, what, when, where, why and how?

[RThM]

I say give Byrd some credit. This has nothing to do with hypocrisy or whatever and people who're criticizing him too heavily are missing the bigger picture. He's trying to lead in a state that's fairly retrograde. And lead by example. That takes an incredible amount of honesty and courage and diplomacy. It's too easy to sit on the outside and make dumb generalizations. Please note the gentle way with which he's reminded people that "Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian.­" If this sets a fraction of the voters there thinking then we're way ahead of where we used to be.

[Felicty]

You pleasantly surprised me, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia.

Thank you, sir.

[Vantunow]

Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia has endorsed Obama today, a powerful statement given Obama's recent loss in the state.

Byrd said in his statement that "Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support."


TIMING - Not his thing is it? I guess he didn't want to be embarrassed to see Obama go down despite his endorsement. However, I would have had a lot more respect for him if he had done so before WV primary.

[kiga]

Hypocrites Alert !!
Clinton wins West Virginia by 42% of votes more than Obama and Robert Byrd endorses Obama? Didn't Obama himself said the the elected officials (that is senator Byrd) should go with the will of their people. Don't think we have not noticed the good old boys trying to steal the nomination for Obama. If you do steal the nomination, we will show you this fall with our votes; one at a time.

[HowdyDoody]

Duhhh...Ob­ama and others (Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, others) were talking about who earns the most OVERALL pledged delegates. Gosh, can't you think things through before you spout off?

[Bootoomee]

Didn't Clinton say that they should vote as they deem fit? In fact isn't that what her whole campaign has been based on since February? It is the only thing she is right about though. SDs are free to vote as they like.

Stop whining.

And why the threat? If you are so influential, how come your candidate is losing in all metrics?

[Vantunow]

Steal?
That would imply you are winning or ahead.

It must be a new metric that Clinton team is working on to claim they are ahead, because all of the pre-existing metrics that are available to mankind, she has lost.

[WAstateliberal]

They were talking about pledged delegates nationwide, not jurisidiction by jurisdiction. But you knew that, and so did Hillary even though she distorted time and again.

[JackND]

Someone seems to have forgotten that Hillary's take on superdelegates is that they should vote their the person they think would be the best candidate for president, regardless of the voters.

[shela88]

God Bless You Senator Byrd for endorsing Barak Obama.the candidate with whom you share so many core beliefs and who will make you proud of your choice and your country, Though Mrs. Clinton used your name and the great affection the people of your state have for you to reinforce her political advantage last week, her true beliefs are not your beliefs...­especially when it comes to the tragic blunder that is our involvement in Iraq.. I saw you take the floor of the Senate and with every fiber of your being decry the illegality and immorality of a war Mrs. Clinton voted for..a war that, like Senator Obama, you were against from the start. You called the move "blind" and "improvident" and you have, over time, made a number of powerful speeches against (what is now) the Iraq occupation that have moved me to tears. You are a true American hero.

[jackie4444]

Does anyone remember Sen. Byrd's impassioned speeches against invading Iraq? The most statesmanlike and well-reasoned speeches I've heard by any legislator on any subject during my lifetime. Byrd's words ultimately fell on willfully 'deaf' ears in BOTH parties, but no one tried harder than he did to stop it. And most of them didn't TRY AT ALL. Had the rest of our representatives not skittered away like so many cockroaches to safe 'cover', countless deaths could have been avoided. And he was ultimately sent back to the Senate by West Virginians. Perhaps because the words that JFK penned of Lucius Lamar are equally appliable to Robert Byrd:

"Thus it is, my countrymen,m you have sent me to the topmost mast, and I tell you what I see. If you say I must come down, I will obey without a murmur, for you cannot make me lie to you; but if you return me, I can only say that I will be true to love of country, truth and God... I prize the confidence of the people of Mississippi, but I never made popularity the standard of my action. I profoundly respect public opinion, but I believe that there is in conscious rectitude of purpose a sustaining power which will support a man of ordinary firmness under any circumstances whatever."

Sen. Obama, you are privileged to have this endorsement, and you have much to live up to in receiving it.

[CommonSensePlease]

I do. You are absolutely right! 23 Democrat Senators saw the light....a­nd voted against the resolution. Hillary did not! I remember her disappointing speech. I do remember the speech given by Senator Byrd that day. In fact, at that time, I sent him an email to congratulate him on his magnificent and moving speech!

[PJay1]

Yes, Senator Byrd was almost the lone voice waving his little pocket Constitution.
Phil Donahue used him in his new movie "Body Of War".

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/68984/

Senator Byrd's endorsement of Barack Obama reaffirms that all things are possible.
The former Klansman who has long since rejected and renounced racism and now has endorsed an AA candidate for president of the USA speaks volumes of the progress we HAVE made.

Senator Clinton, OTOH, is appealing to those Kentucky and WV "white" racist voters and she's not even being subtle about it. Shame on her!

[mindact]

Yep, I remember that speech. he called what the bush admin and his cohorts were doing "hype", while waving his pocket constitution. he's indeed an institution in congress

[OlderBudWeiser]

I remember Clinton's speech as well. "....I cast this vote with great conviction­..." and then find out she didn't even read the intelligence report first. Now she, herself is a weapon of mass destruction.
Obama is indeed lucky to have been endorsed by Sen. Byrd. Go for it, yes we can!

[rzan]

He also eloquently defended Anita Hill against the forces of evil.

[nativeeyes]

OBAMA/ BYRD 08'


LET'S GO GET MCSHAME, MCWAR, MCSENILE, MCLOSER AND HIS BAD OF CRITERS!!!

[JohnCochtosten]

Maybe Byrd could pull some of the 65+ vote from McCain.

[djelimon]

If Obama can turn around that ex-dixiecrat, then I believe he can indeed unify America

[silvertongue]

AMEN! Right now, I'm sitting here humming "We Shall Overcome."