Clinton Superdelegate Switches to Obama
It's just one more superdelegate for Obama, but it's an important "get" for his campaign.
The Associated Press is reporting that Joe Andrew, who chaired the Democratic National Committee for two years while Bill Clinton was president, will announce today that he is switching his support in this year's campaign from Sen. Hillary Clinton to Sen. Barack Obama.
Andrew says the Obama camp didn' t ask him to switch, but he decided to do so after watching the way Obama handled two issues in recent days: his stand against the gas tax holiday and the way he has handled the most recent Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy.
Andrew said he was impressed with Obama's stand on principle against the tax holiday when the politically easy thing to do would have been to support it. And he liked the way Obama has dealt with the Wright controversy.
"He has shown such mettle under fire," Andrew told the AP. "The Jeremiah Wright controversy just reconfirmed for me, just as the gas tax controversy confirmed for me, that he is the right candidate for our party."
Andrew also told the Indianapolis Star that his wife, Ann, who has been a full-time volunteer for Clinton is also switching her support to Obama.
Andrew said he was also concerned about what the bruising battle was doing to his party.
"I am convinced that the primary process has devolved to the point where it is now bad for the Democratic Party."
He also said that a vote to continue this process would be a vote to help John McCain.
Andrew told the Star that he hopes Obama picks a Clinton supporter as his running mate - such as Sen. Evan Bayh, national co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, to help unite thte party.
The Former DNC chairman will make his announcement today in his home town of Indianapolis. He said he also plans to send a letter to remaining uncommitted superdelegates explaining his switch.
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UPDATE: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Obama will pick up three more Illinois superdelegates next week when the Democratic Party of Illinois meet next week to finish filling out the delegate slate:"Mayor [Richard] Daley --he shares strategist David Axelrod with Obama and brother Bill, the former Commerce Secretary is on the Obama team; Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), a Hyde Parker who lives near the Obamas'; and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger."
8:04 AM ET | 05- 1-2008 | permalink

