CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
June 4, 2008 – 9:28 p.m.
‘Blue Dogs’ Keep Their Distance From Obama
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff
Barack Obama ’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate seem ready to turn to the fall campaign and rally behind him as the party’s soon-to-be presidential nominee.
But in the House, some members of the Blue Dog Coalition of conservative Democrats say they’ll keep their distance from Obama, at least until after the party formally nominates the Illinois senator at the Democratic National Convention in late August.
Of the roughly 30 House members who have yet to declare a preference in the presidential primaries, which ended June 3, 16 are Blue Dogs.
“Frankly, none of the presidential candidates for either party is doing real well in my district. It’s not a good idea to get close to any of them,” said Charlie Melancon of Louisiana.
“No, I won’t be endorsing anyone,” agreed fellow Blue Dog Charlie Wilson of Ohio.
Nancy Boyda of Kansas represents a district that is part of Obama’s family story — his mother was born into a military family at Fort Leavenworth and has ties in the area around the University of Kansas.
But Boyda probably won’t be escorting Obama around campus in the foreseeable future, and she says she may even skip the convention. “I’m going to stay focused on doing my job. The good people of Kansas are fine with that,’’ Boyda said.
Outreach Efforts
Obama made an unannounced visit to the House floor last month to appeal to uncommitted Democrats and supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, and he held a private meeting with uncommitted Blue Dogs.
Blue Dogs have a long history of holding liberal party leaders at arm’s length. In the 2006 election, many of them distanced themselves from Nancy Pelosi of California, now the Speaker of the House.
Melissa Bean of Illinois, a self-described “Obama Mama” and a member of both the Blue Dogs and the New Democrat Coalition, said she expected as many as several dozen House members, including Blue Dogs, to remain uncommitted.
“Probably a lot of them, in the Blue Dogs and in the regular part of the caucus, will just kind of stay where they are. Some will come to the convention, some won’t. They are independent minded,” Bean said.
Several Obama supporters said they expect his backers on Capitol Hill to swing into action to try to soften up resistance among uncommitted lawmakers and Clinton supporters.
‘Blue Dogs’ Keep Their Distance From Obama
“Women supporters of Sen. Obama will approach women supporters of Sen. Clinton. There will be a gradual effort to reach out,’’ said one of Obama’s House backers.
But such efforts could have mixed results.
For example, Don Cazayoux of Louisiana, who recently won a special election, said he would endorse no one. He said he would later support Obama, but for now the newcomer is focused on showing voters that he is an independent-minded Democrat.
“I’m going to represent my district and talk about my own candidacy. I’m not going to be talking about the candidate for president,’’ Cazayoux said. “That’s because I will agree with him on some issues and I will disagree with him on others.”
For their part, Clinton supporters said they would be open to talking with Obama about his coming general election campaign, but many said they were either not ready to switch sides or were uncertain whether the Obama campaign would be inclined to offer them roles.
For example, Ellen O. Tauscher of California, chairwoman of the New Democrat Coalition, said she doubted she would be asked to put her Silicon Valley contacts to use for the top of the ticket. “That role will probably fall to either Zoe Lofgren or Anna Eshoo,” Tauscher said, referring to two longtime Obama supporters from California. “We’ll see what happens.”
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland said he believed Obama would move to close ranks with Clinton and her supporters in coming days. “I have zero doubt that Sen. Clinton and Barack Obama are going to get together,” Hoyer said. “They both want to turn the page.”
Superdelegates Are Told to Decide
In a joint statement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., Pelosi and other party leaders set a Friday deadline for uncommitted superdelegates to endorse a candidate, saying the time has come for Democrats to “stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.”
Eight previously uncommitted Senate superdelegates swung to Obama in a group Wednesday.
“Our focus now is on victory in November and on giving Barack Obama every ounce of our support, every bit of our energy, and our total commitment to do everything in our power to win the presidency,” said a joint statement signed by Sens. Barbara Boxer of California, Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey, Ken Salazar of Colorado and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Kathleen Hunter contributed to this story.
Comments
why do I think that all this hoopla to hurry up and confirm Senator Obama because he won in a slick campaign is so he can be used more as a figurehead to appease a certain segment of our country. Why can't superdelegates take a real, in-depth hard look at both candidates and compare their strengths and experience to lead our country? 18 million hard working voters need a true and valid answer. Unlike the delegates who lined up for Senator Obama, they do not have jobs and are hurting. That is why they voted for Senator Clinton.
Clinton's 18 million supporters are unemployed?
Ladies and gentlemen: It is called politics! Every time the wind blows that is the direction politicians follow, or the folks out here in Pied Piper Land. It is the stuff you find in barns and fields. I thought I have seen everything until I saw how the Media was playing their games for the past 18 months, and I realized then that this country's leaders will never learn, and the people out here that vote for them will never either. The media is a disgrace to this country. They are suppose to be keeping checks and balances in our society and instead have ran their own agenda...Money talks! I would not at this moment even try to guess who is going to be president this fall unless you can the viewers left at MSNBC. Why can't the media let politicians alone to work things out instead of jumping on every word that is being said. Hillary made the choice not to give it to Obama until this Saturday. Give the woman a break..she needed to catch her breath for the campaign that she has ran. Let Obama have his say in all of this with out being pushed...Thank you !
If they don't want to endorse so what, I would question whether they actually hold or believe in Democratic Agenda which is more populist than elitest. Something has to change in this country and I hope Obama can at least make a start, McCain sure can't. I think Obama can, but I would have voted for Hillary if that had been the case. The Bush administration and to a lesser extent the Clinton administration drove this country to the bottom in education, work, environment, health care, economy and a disappearing middle class plus the US infrastructure, we have to have something new. If the "Blue Dogs" can't see the dam bursting for change then let them go their own way, maybe they can join the Bob Barr Independents.
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