DC Unpledged Delegate Switches to Obama

Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. was narrowly elected as an unpledged "add-on" delegate by the DC Democratic State Committee on April 3.  Thomas had been an early Clinton supporter.  Since then, Thomas has given mixed signals, I'll spare you the details except for one, Barack Obama got over 83% of the vote in Thomas'es Ward 5 in Northeast Washington. Here is a link from WashingtonPost.com
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/...

Anyway, hopefully this will end the guessing game and inside baseball politics in DC.  Believe me, there have been a lot of inside baseball pitches in DC throughout the second tier process.  The bottom line is that the voters were heard, loud & clear, and that DC will be fairly represented in Denver, at least by those delegates who were directly or indirectly elected by the voters.  

The only remaining uncommitted Delegate from DC is Party Chair Anita Bonds.  There are still a few uncommitteds among DNC delegates who will be part of the DC Delegation in Denver.  

Remember, NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, please support voting rights in Congress for DC residents.

•  how many is that already since the debate?

  anyone know?

  by MadAsHellMaddie on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:41:45 AM PDT

  •  four, I think

    This one was written about last night and I think it made it four.  

    by Sun dog on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:42:52 AM PDT

    •  excellent. How many do you think will come

      forth by tonight?  I will wager 8 total.

      by MadAsHellMaddie on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:49:54 AM PDT

      •  i doubt it....

        but then again I thought most would wait until after PA

        by Cronk on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:51:20 AM PDT

    •  Nope, I think 5, or 6

      1 Oklahoman
      1 DC
      3, or 4 NC

      And, what's the Boss' endorsement worth?;)
      Philadephia Daily News endorsement?

      by Abie on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:00:00 AM PDT

      •  Bruce is a superdelegate?

        He's probably more qualified than most of those DNC machine people.  

        I thought there were two from NC?  

        This is a fun problem to have isn't it?  Can't keep track of how many supers are coming in on a single day.  

        by Sun dog on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:08:47 AM PDT

•  Hoping for a Friday Endorsement Tomorrow?

  I hope that tomorrow was might see someone big come out for Obama.

  by ElizabethAM on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:43:00 AM PDT

•  Tips for Respecting the People's Vote

  Barack Obama won the DC Primary with over 76% of the vote.  We worked hard for thise extra few points.

  by howardpark on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:43:12 AM PDT

  •  The Beltway Blowout was beautiful

    You'd think a campaign HQed in Ballston would manage to at least stanch the bleeding somewhere in the Metro DC area.

    by Anarchofascist on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:00:18 AM PDT

  •  and well will kerry and kennedy respect their

    constituency voteS?

    by Zain on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:13:53 AM PDT

    •  The Clinton Snark about Sen. Kennedy...

      ...is tired.  What does it accomplish to disrespect a great Democrat and the greatest Senator ever?

      by howardpark on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:21:44 AM PDT

•  I know this must make you feel great! Great work

  on getting that extra delegate last month as well!

  by Cronk on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:50:09 AM PDT

  •  Thanks Cronk

    Hopefully the next curveball thrown in DC will be at Nationals Park.  Thank you for your eagle eyed oversight of the process throughout the country.

    by howardpark on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:52:26 AM PDT

•  Chuck Todd wrote this

  in his lates delegate update:

  Obama picked up an Oklahoma superdelegate, add-on Reggie Whitten. Clinton now leads in superdelegates 257-235. Since Sunday, Obama has picked up five supers to Clinton’s zero. With his three elected superdelegate pick-ups yesterday, Obama has moved past Clinton among the group (U.S. Senators, Reps and governors): 96-94. In the overall count now, Obama leads by 142 (1,651-1,509). He has a 164 pledged-delegate lead (1,416-1,252).

  Thus, with Councilman Harry Thomas Jr's switch Clinton's lead in superdelegates dwindles 257-236.

  by Sallyport on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:52:36 AM PDT

  •  Technically an Add-On -- does it matter?

    Technically, Thomas is an unpledged add-on, not a superdelegate.  Does that classification matter in these tallies?

    by howardpark on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:56:50 AM PDT

    •  He is indeed a superdelegate!

      According to this articlefrom WP.

      by Sallyport on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:01:05 AM PDT

    •  It does matter in the perception game

      Remember, the Clinton narrative right now is that delegates that are picked through primaries and caucuses do not matter, only superdelegates do.

      by Anarchofascist on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:07:28 AM PDT

  •  Correction...

    The new count is 256-236.  20 more superdelegates to close the gap and it should happen by next Tuesday!

    by Sallyport on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 07:58:47 AM PDT

•  Obama only needs about 1/3 of the remaining

  undecided supers if the following numbers hold up.

  Per Obama's Website - Current Delegates 1,419

  Per Leaked Spreadsheet - 1/2 of remaining pledged delegates (Total 566) 1/2 = 283

  Current number of Superdelegates supporting Obama listed at Demconwatch - 228

  1,419 + 283 + 228 =  1,930

  Magic Number needed 2,024

  2,024 - 1,930 = 94 Needed

  Current Number of Undecided Supers = 316

  by blueocean on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:04:01 AM PDT

  •  Great numbers crunching n/t

    by Abie on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:15:47 AM PDT

•  I hope last night's disastrous "debate"

  will have the supers finally deciding to end this ridiculous blood fest.

  Hillary is doing McCain's job while St John schmoozes with the press and they in turn sit on all their anti-Hillary ammunition, which they have been carefully stashing away and sharpening for the general election.

  She showed her true colors marching so happily along with the RW smear job Gibson and Stephanopoulos did last night.  Her "kitchen sink" tactics might be appropriate against the GOP, but she is shredding any unity in the Dem party - they need to shut her down after this inexcusible performance.

  And I think the MSM looks horrible here too - it was appalling that they even advertised this as a "debate"!!!

  by blue armadillo on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:20:36 AM PDT