Colorado Superdelegate Urges Peers To "Get Off The Fence"

By David O Williams

Superdelegate Debbie Marquez of Edwards, who declared her support for Sen. Barack Obama in early February, said it's time for her undeclared counterparts in Colorado to "get off the fence" and start announcing who they will support for the Democratic nomination for president.

"I do agree with [Democratic National Committee] Chairman [Howard] Dean that the superdelegates who haven't made the announcement of their decision come the end of this primary season need to get off the fence and confirm our nominee," said Marquez, who added it was tough to go against Sen. Hillary Clinton after years of supporting the Clintons in the White House. But now Marquez said the party needs to move on.

"Going into the next few elections there is no way (Clinton) can catch up on pledged delegates, so it's just superdelegates that will determine this, and for the most part they are going to vote with how their states have gone," Marquez said. "If we can wrap this up by the beginning of June, then we have a couple of months before the (DNC) convention (in Denver Aug-25-28) to unify and bring the party together."

There are nine more primaries remaining, ending with Puerto Rico on June 7.

For Marquez, one of the first Latinos elected to the Democratic National Committee in 2004 and a longtime chairwoman of the Eagle County Democratic Party, her choice of Obama came down to his opposition to the war in Iraq versus Clinton's Senate vote for the invasion. Marquez felt vindicated by her state and county's overwhelming support for Obama at the Colorado Caucus in February.

Colorado voted for Obama by a margin of 66 percent to 32 percent for Clinton. Obama won Eagle County by an even bigger margin, 72.1 percent to 26.1 percent.

Marquez said she received a phone call from former President Bill Clinton asking for her support for his wife just before the caucus in February, and Marquez said it was a difficult conversation after she informed him or her support for Obama.

"When I saw video of a speech in California [in which Clinton was scolding the audience], it reminded me of my phone conversation," Marquez said. "I could feel the finger wagging. It's interesting to see who he is and how he responds to those of us who don't agree with him."

Continue reading at Colorado Confidential.

Comments

[marykins123]

Debbie Marquez advice should be listened and followed by other Superdelegates. As a voter that has been watching this campaign unfold and listening to Gov. Richardson being called Judas, one can only imagine what kind of pressure undeclared Superdelegates are facing from the Clintons.
To the Superdelegates - I am a white 64 year old Independent granny that has supported Obama from day one. As an Independent that has had enough of the Republican Machine in Washington, I was ready, willing and able to support either Obama or Clinton in November with time and money...no more. The day the first of many 'kitchen sinks' were thrown by Clintons I became confused with the Democratic party....t­he day that Sen. Clinton declared that, of all things, Republican McCain was qualified to be President and Democratic front-runner Obama was not - Clinton, if the nominee, has lost me vote. I voice my opinion just to state a point, not to tell you how to vote. What I do ask is to have the courage to get this over before your party is split in half and the White House is lost to McCain - God forbid if that were to happen in an election that is yours to lose!