CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
May 14, 2008 – 6:12 p.m.
Clinton Superdelegate Reveals He Voted for Obama
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
Clinton superdelegate Brad Ellsworth said Wednesday that he cast his vote in the May 6 Indiana Democratic presidential primary for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama , adding yet another intriguing twist to the mystery of just who the conservative freshman lawmaker supports.
“In the booth, I voted for Obama,” said Ellsworth, who announced after the Indiana primary that he planned to use his vote as a superdelegate to support New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton unless there was a compelling reason not to back her.
That was taken by many observers, most notably the Clinton campaign, as an endorsement. But Ellsworth’s office quickly sought to clarify that, saying that the commitment of his superdelegate vote was contingent on the race going all the way to the convention and was not tantamount to an endorsement.
Instead, Ellsworth notes that he is following the wishes of the Democrats in his southwestern 8th District, who overwhelmingly favored Clinton and helped her to a narrow win in the Hoosier State.
Superdelegate endorsements have been few and far between for Clinton since the Indiana and North Carolina primaries May 6, and even a 41-point win in West Virginia Tuesday night has not prompted a flurry of support.
Overall, Obama has 1,885 delegates, including 287 superdelegates, and Clinton has 1,717 delegates, including 271 superdelegates, according to the Associated Press.
Ellsworth offered few specific clues as to why he voted for Obama.
“It’s just my personal preference in the primary,” he said.
Comments
ROFL! Such resounding endorsements for Hills :P It's a wonder he didn't say the he also gave the max amount to Obama's campaign also. With stories like this as a regular (SD's only backing her because of district vote results, and Jumping sides from her to him) It's a wonder they will even tell the press when they get an SD in their camp :D
TALK ABOUT FENCE STRADDLERS HERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. PERHAPS HE DID THAT BECAUSE HE WAS A FRESHMAN IN CONGRESS. HE SHOULD REMEMBER HOW THE REPUBLICANS HOUNDED KERRY AS A FLIP FLOPPER HELPING TO LEAD TO HIS DEFEAT. IF HE IS FOR CLINTON HE SHOULD JUSTIFY HIS STAND TO THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS. I AM A BIT DISCUSTED WITH THE WAY SOME OF THE CLINTON "SUPPORTERS" SEEM TO WANT TO BE ON THE WINNING SIDE MORE THAN STANDING UP FOR WHAT THEY TRULY BELIEVE. I THINK VOTERS WANT REPRESENTATIVES TO DO JUST THAT.
I'm an Obama supporter, but Hillary should be miffed at this. It's not that it makes her look bad - it's just a blatant example of how silly the whole notion of "superdelegates" is. This man was a moron - not because he endorsed one and voted for the other, but because he was daft enough to admit to it.
"I had to vote for him, so that I could vote against him." Hmmm, where have we heard that line before???
I applaud this superdelegate for casting his vote at the convention the way his DISTRICT voted and not his own personal choice. I do not agree with the whole superhuman superdelegate vote but it would enrage me to no end to see a few privileged individuals change the vote and the will of their constituents due to the trumping of our vote by their supposed elite credentials.
Give the guy a break! He said he will vote for Clinton because that's how the majority in his district voted, but that he personally prefers Obama. This is a perfectly consistent, principled, position, whether you agree with this interpretation of the superdelegate's job or not.
just another judas, man against women.
I am amazed at how far some worms will slither to try to get entangled in the disgusting love fest: "The Slumming of America"
I support Obama strongly but I think Ellsworth made the right call. Keep in mind that all politics are local as Tip O'neil said. Ellsworth is a swing congressional district in a red state where he must be more responsive to the will of his people than most. Indiana went from a 2-7 GOP skewed congressional delegation in 2004 to a 5-4 DEM majority - which helped the DEM's take the house in 2006. And 4 of those DEM seats are now still contested. He is not a moron nor a flip-floper - I think it is so very refreshing that a politician would be so candid. I've wondered if some of the superdelegates made backroon deals in smoke-filled rooms for endorsements - this Ellsworth guy clearly did not.
At least this gut is honest, most of the SDs are not honest. Bill Richardson is a good example, his state voted for Hillary and he gave his SD to Obama for a position in his cabinet. The SDs should be done away with.
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