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Hillary Rodham Clinton will pick up the support of another influential superdelegate this morning when Bill George declares his support for the senator from New York.
George, the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, had been one of six remaining undeclared Pennsylvania superdelegates. [...]
With George’s support, Clinton extends her lead over fellow Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama to 16-5 among Pennsylvania superdelegates.
With the expected hearing on the FL and MI delegation plans on May 31, here is a look at the makeup of the committee and who supports who.
Co-Chairs - no endorsement Alexis Herman (co-chair, Washington , D.C. ) James Roosevelt, Jr. (co-chair, Massachusetts )
Members - Clinton supporters (12) Hartina Flournay (DC) Donald Fowler (SC) Harold Ickes, Jr. (DC) Alice Huffman (CA) Ben Johnson (DC) Elaine Kamarck (MA) Eric Kleinfeld (DC) Mona Pasquil (CA) Mame Reiley (VA) Garry Shay (CA) Elizabeth Smith (DC) Michael Steed (MD) Members - Obama supporters (8) Martha Fuller Clark (NH) Carol Khare Fowler (SC) Janice Griffin (MD) Thomas Hynes (IL) Allan Katz (FL) Sharon Stroschein (SD) Sarah Swisher (IA) Everett Ward (NC) Members - no known endorsement (8) Donna Brazille (DC) Mark Brewer (MI) Ralph Dawson (NY) Yvonne Gates ( NV) Alice Germond (DC) - DNC Secretary Jaime Gonzalez, Jr. (TX) David McDonald (WA) Jerome Wiley Segovia (VA)
Matt notes that Allan Katz is on Obama's Finance Committee and Ralph Dawson is one of the few New York superdelegates who have not endorsed Clinton. However, Dawson introduced the measure to strip FL and MI of their delegates.
There are 30 members, hence, 16 is a majority. If all of Clinton's supporters vote as a block, they will only need 4 more votes to secure their desired outcome.
Obama continues to roll out superdelegate endorsements. The latest endorsements comes from Richard Machacek, an Iowa superdelegate.
Another very important endorsement for Obama comes from Kentucky. Congressman Ben Chandler endorsed Obama today. Chandler represents a district that is predominantly white, working class, a demographic Obama has struggled with throughout this campaign.
The Kentucky primary is May 20. Latest polls shows Obama with a huge disadvantage in the state. Clinton leads there 62% to 26% in the last Survey USA poll.
A little surprising in my opinion, but today, Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of outgoing North Carolina Governor, Mike Easley. This endorsement marks the second superdelegate endorsement from North Carolina for Clinton. Obama has six.
The endorsement comes a little late in my opinion, but could give her a small boost and momentum in the state. She is likely to lose by double digits, but if Clinton manages to keep the race in single digits, look for Easley to jump up a few notches on Clinton's VP list.
Easley is also a superdelegate.
The latest Rasmussen poll shows Obama losing some ground in NC, now leading Clinton 51% to 37%. That is down from a 23-point lead in the last poll. Survey USA has the race in single digits with Obama leading 50% to 41%. PPP (which had Obama winning PA by 3%, but is a NC firm) shows Obama's lead shrinking from 25% to 12%, now 51% to 39%. With the Easley endorsement, the reemergence of Rev. Wright and the GOP ad campaign, don't be surprised if the race is closer than expected when all is set and done.
Keep in mind, Clinton has never over-performed in a southern election, so be very cautious with these polls. Firms have tended to under poll Obama in the south.
