TrueBlueCT has a diary up about a CT super delegate who is rumored to be leaning towards Hillary Clinton.
Well, I've got a bit of a project that I'd like to start that's related to this. I would like for us to go - state by state - and convince the remaining undecided super delegates to support Barack Obama. In order to do this, I will need your help. I didn't necessarily plan on having CT go first, but since the rumor is that Olson may be leaning, let's start with CT and go from there!
Here's what is ahead in this diary:
First, a breakdown of the current super delegate situation. Second, some background on the undecided super delegates. Third, some reasons why they may want to consider supporting Barack Obama (besides the fact that he is clearly the best candidate, is energizing young voters, has raised the most money, has won the most states...I could go on all day here, so I'll just stop now). And Fourth - some contact information.
There are 11 Unpledged PLEO Delegate Votes from Connecticut:
The breakdown so far, from DemConWatch, looks like this:
Undeclared:
Nancy DiNardo--DNC
John Olsen--DNC
Clinton:
Ellen Camhi--DNC
Obama:
Chris Dodd--Senate
Rep. Chris Murphy
Rep. John Larson
DNC Stephen Fontana
DNC Martin Dunleavy
Rep. Rosa DeLauro
Anthony Avallone
Don Williams (CT)#
Rob Carver (DE)#
Other notable endorsement: Ned Lamont
So we have two CT supers to work on for Obama. If what TrueBlueCT is correct in hearing that Olson may be leaning towards Hillary, we'd better work quickly to show him why he shouldn't.
Off the Bus, over at Huffington Post has some background info on all the supers. That's where I learned these details about the remaining undecided supers from CT:
John Olsen is the former Chair of the CT State Democratic Party. He is President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO.
Nancy DiNardo
* DiNardo is the first woman Chair of the Connecticut Democratic Committee.
* Former Finance Chair, the Connecticut Democratic Committee, 2001.
* Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman in the 4th Congressional district.
* Director of Psychological Services, Bridgeport, CT, school system.
* Teacher, Bridgeport, CT, school system.
Some reasons why these two undecided supers should support Obama:
Reason number 1 -- He won.
Here's the Congressional breakdown of the primary results:
CT1 - Obama 44,248 Clinton 39,534
CT2 - Obama 32,823 Clinton 33,242
CT3 - Obama 39,637 Clinton 35,171
CT4 - Obama 33,726 Clinton 28,691
CT5 - Obama 29,308 Clinton 28,788
Total - Obama 179,742 Clinton 165,426
CT4 - where DiNardo served as Dem Town Committee Chairwoman, went to Obama.
Olson is President of the AFL-CIO - those offices are located in Rocky Hill, which is in the 1st CD, which Obama won. Olson is originally from Greenwich, 4th CD, which Obama won.
The AFL-CIO, under Olson's direction back in 2006 made a mistake in endorsing Joe Lieberman. Hopefully Olson doesn't make another mistake in endorsing Clinton.
Reason Number 2 -- He's raised the most money.
Looking at the state - it's pretty clear that it would be easy for DiNardo and Olson to join the vast majority of other supers from their state - and support Obama. As TrueBlueCT noted, Ellen Camhi, the single CT super supporting Hillary, came out for Hillary very early on in the primary. In fact, I'd say she ought to reconsider her decision and come join Obama as well!
Let's take a look at why - outside of just the fact that he beat Clinton in every single Congressional District and that he's raised $3.4 million in the state to Hillary's $2.5.
Reason Number 3 -- Activists Support Obama (and vice versa)
This is the Obama state blog for Connecticut. It was updated today, despite the fact that the primary in CT was held on Feb. 5th.
This is Hillary's CT page. It was updated (as far as I can tell), the day after the primary, and it hasn't been updated since then.
What does that mean? That means that Hillary has had ZERO outreach to the voters in CT since the primary there over 2 months ago. When I type in a search on Hillary's website - of upcoming events in CT...this page comes up - which tells me about WV events - and it looks like a whole lot of New Yorkers are headed there! (No one from CT though...not from the looks of it...and I think that says something.)
Let's contrast that with the upcoming events in CT on Obama's page:
Connecticut UpcomingEvents
Phone bank and Postcards
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 @ 5:45pm
Cos Cob, CT
CT WFO Phone Bank to Undecided Women in Indiana
Saturday, May 03, 2008 @ 12:30pm
Guilford, CT
INDIANA CALLING
Sunday, May 04, 2008 @ 1:00pm
Hartford, CT
Watch a debate
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 @ 12:00pm
New Haven, CT
CT Statewide Voter Registration Kick-Off May 10th 2PM Hartford
Saturday, May 10, 2008 @ 2:00pm
Hartford, CT
People are actually signed up for these events.
At the bottom of that page we see all the various groups that have formed all over CT - to support Obama:
Largest Groups in Connecticut
- Connecticut for Obama, Hartford
- Barack Obama for President 08 - Connecticut Chapter, Hartford
- Hartford County for Obama, Hartford
- New Haven CT for Obama, New Haven
- Yale for Obama, New Haven
- Fairfield County for Barack Obama, Bridgeport
- Glastonbury for Obama, Glastonbury
- Middletown for Obama, Middletown
- Southeast CT for Obama, Norwich
- CT-2-NH, Hartford
Update: Elaborating on Reason #3 (from Femlaw)
Obama's network doesn't just show he has more support in that state. It shows he has a resource that can serve the whole CT Democratic Party come November.
Since Nancy DiNardo is Chairwoman of the CT State Democratic Party, she's reachable on the CT Dems website. Consider writing her a very polite note telling her why you feel she should support and endorse Barack Obama. While you're at it, consider writing Olson as well. John Olson can be reached by email: jolsen@ctaflcio.org
I cannot stress this enough - be very polite.
State your reasons. State them clearly and concisely. Do not bash Hillary Clinton in the process. Not even a little bit. Obama should be the choice of these two super delegates. Let's remind them why.