CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
March 6, 2008 – 12:31 p.m.
Key West Virginia Support for Obama
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
Barack Obama will pick up an important industrial state endorsement from veteran Rep. Nick J. Rahall II before the May 13 West Virginia primary.
Rahall told CQ Politics Thursday that he privately made his commitment to Obama about 10 days ago and will officially endorse the delegate leader in the Democratic presidential primary sometime before voters in his state go to the polls.
“The new voters he has brought to the process this year and the new direction, in my opinion, add up to what our country needs,” Rahall said.
Obama has struggled to win the support of the type of working-class white voters who populate much of Rahall’s 3rd district in the southern portion of the state. In the Ohio primary on Tuesday, many of them backed Hillary Rodham Clinton , and Rahall acknowledged that his pick may be out of step with the leanings of the Democratic voters in his district.“I recognize this may not be a popular decision in my district,” he said. The district has the third‑lowest median income in the country.
As a member of the House, Rahall is one of the 795 “superdelegates” who are not forced to pledge their support to any candidate at the Democratic convention. West Virginia has 28 pledged delegates and 11 unpledged, including Rahall.
Comments
As a citizen of the State of West Virginia, these elected officials of ours need to wait to see who the people vote for and not keep the good ole boy system alive and well. Guess they are afraid of an experienced, strong woman being president and are supporting an inexperienced, not ready for the position man. Good luck on these two getting re-elected this year. They have lost my vote and I have voted for them both for years. Go Hillary!!
Hey Michelle, this is not about race or gender, but the american people. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are great candidates and we should support whoever has the nomination. Abe Lincoln was much less experienced than Obama. It's not about what they've done, but what they're going to do. I think either one is great and much better than John Mccain and his continuation of the bush policies. It's great that we have our first woman or black president running, but the important issue is the american people.
As a citizen of the State of West Virginia, I say good for Rahall and Rockefeller. I too was on the fence but after watching Hillary this past two weeks go negative on Obama, I can now say that if Clinton wins the candidacy, I will vote Republican for the first time since I voted for Jimmay Carter.
As a citizen of the State of West Virginia, these elected officials of ours need to wait to see who the people vote for and not keep the good ole boy system alive and well. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, if thats the case. HC should drop out. The people have already chosen, and its Obama. No way she can win without Supers overturning the voters now.
Thank you Ms Benitez-Thompson! You are a Superdelegate who is obviously following the voices of your constituents. Unlike our representative, Emmanuel Cleaver. I live in Kansas City, the 5th Congressional District in Missouri "represented" by Emmanuel Cleaver. I say "represented" because despite his district voting for Obama in the MO Primary (Obama's 56% to Clinton's 43%), Cleaver continues to support Clinton. This is who he will submit his Superdelegate vote for. Troubling? Yes, to say the least. In a recent article he stated: "... Loyalty trumps everything." Link And he talks about following the will of his constituents WHO VOTED HIM INTO OFFICE (by a smaller margin, I might add) is like giving up a friend's seat to a stranger. Cleaver, we voted you into office to represent us. In a clear, cut show of your district's voice you have chosen to NOT represent us. My question is: "Why not?" You are up for re-election this fall ...
Michelle, I respect where you're coming from - and were Hillary an outsider in any way, I'd be right there with you. But she's just a female face on the oldest of old boy systems. Bill Clinton destroyed the Democratic party with corporate interests, and Hillary has surrounded herself with the same folks. The Obamas, unlike all the other candidates, aren't rich and don't come from political families. Down with the ol' boys!
I live in Rahall's district and will also be supporting Obama. Let's make it clear that this isn't a contest about race or gender. The truth is Clinton would be an OK President, but she carries a lot of baggage that could hurt Dems in the future. I also agree with much of the public and her colleagues who find her to be divisive. Her "success" last Tuesday came at the expense of the Democratic party as a whole after she focused not on the issues, but on attacking Obama's personally. I find it troubling that when someone can't win on the issues they would stoop to such a level. This election isn't about the American people as Hillary claims -- it's about Hillary Clinton and her own ego. For the good of the party, she needs to either stick to the issues or step aside. Otherwise, we'll be stuck with 4 more years of George W.
I agree with Michelle, we elect these officials, and they should wait to see what the voters want. Bill Clinton helped this country more than hurt it. Get real people. The republicans will bring out enough to destroy Obama, remember GW won from the Christian vote, that put him in office. Anyone that can not tell the difference in the economy, etc. since Bill Clinton left office must be living the life of luxury.
I live in Rahalls district also........THERE IS NO WAY I WILL VOTE FOR OBAMA...Rahall and Rockefeller need to remember we voted them in and we can vote them out!!!!!!!!!!!!.If Obama is the nominee i will vote a straight republician ticket........
POST A COMMENT
Oops! The following errors must be addressed: