Superdelegate #1 for Obama today... how many more?

Obama got 2 yesterday. Will they keep doing the morning afternoon thing?

Superdelegate Wu Backs Obama In Oregon
Oregon Rep. David Wu, one of Oregon's 12 Democratic superdelegates, announced Thursday that he'd back Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, citing Obama's stand against the Iraq war "from the very beginning."

Wu joins Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer in backing Obama. Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley are supporting New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. The rest of Oregon's superdelegates have not yet announced their choice.

"We need new policies both at home and abroad," Wu said in a statement. "Like Americans, the international community wants to see real change in America and I believe that Senator Obama embodies that change."

The endorsement is an important win for Obama in one of the few states still to vote. Oregon's primary ballots are counted on May 20. Fox 12

And now... fun with numbers from 2008 Democratic Convention Watch

And if you haven't seen we now have a widget of our top tracker that we update anytime something changes.

And finally... a note to Marc Ambinder. What rock have you been hiding under for the past 5 months?

Lots of talk, not a lot of action. There's been talk for weeks about an effort by liberal bloggers to figure out the names of the undecided superdelegates, out them, and pressure them into announcing their support for one candidate or the other. So far -- so far as I'm aware -- no organized effort has sprouted.

He wrote that today!

•  another one for the O!

  by slinkerwink on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:54:08 AM PDT

  •  "When times trouble you, call DW"

    I loved that theme song.

    by Osaka on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:55:08 AM PDT

    •  Dark Wing Duck

      I haven't heard a reference to that cartoon in a long time.

      by sgilman on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:14:57 AM PDT

      •  I preferred Ducktales

        I'd dump my piggie bank full of pennies on the carpet and dive through it like Scrooge and his Money Bin.

        by droogie6655321 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:08:01 AM PDT

        •  Jumping in here to

          post a link to
          .
          .
          .
          the Tip Jar
          .
          .
          .
          since it's floated so far down.

          by vbdietz on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:51:03 AM PDT

    •  Darryl Waltrip?

      by PittsburghPete on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:30:30 AM PDT

  •  HRed

    Hijacking tip jar spot. Hopefully one more HR and no flame fest...

    by Eddie in ME on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:55:46 AM PDT

    •  Of course

      by the time I say that there's 5 uprates. Never freakin' mind.

      by Eddie in ME on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:56:11 AM PDT

      •  Come on...Sometimes my comment

        ends up in the first spot. You don't HR people for that. Nobody has.

        by soms on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:57:15 AM PDT

        •  Yes you do

          and it's happened plenty before. Always, always give a couple minutes for a comment for the tip jar to post.

          Patience, grasshopper. Besides, I already removed the HR because it was pointless.

          by Eddie in ME on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:07 AM PDT

          •  Yer makin' up rules and it's pointless as well...

            by ksh01 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:04:51 AM PDT

            •  the difference

              If someone other than the diarist posts an entry called "Tip Jar" or asks for "tips for . . . " then its HR worthy because they are taking credit for the diarist's work.  Just posting first without intentionally trying to beat the diarist to the punch is often just an honest mistake.

              by WahooMatt on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:09:15 AM PDT

          •  I will say this once

            putting up a tip jar on someone elses diary is really bad form. Posting first on a diary is not bad form and was never considered such until recently.

            by stevej on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:08:56 AM PDT

            •  I agree.

              If a diarist is so concerned about it, post the tip jar the moment after you publish. If you don't, it's fair game for first comment.

              by AmericanFactotum on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:44:51 AM PDT

          •  This sandbox...

            ...is getting a little ruley...why don't we all chill out? I've been playing here for quite a long time...

            by MichaelPH on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:22:49 AM PDT

      •  I don't think it was a hijacking

        Just enthusiasm. This is great news!

        by beltane on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:07 AM PDT

      •  I just typed out a bitchy comment to you

        For trollrating the diarist.  Luckily, your comment popped up before I hit post.  ;)

        Very bad form to hijack the tip jar.  It confuses me and I haven't had my morning pot of coffee yet.  

        by jlynne on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:01:01 AM PDT

        •  Hey you!

          have missed seeing you around...(disagree with you kinda but do it with affection...heh)....I don't think it's intentional...

          by ksh01 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:35 AM PDT

          •  Hey back at you!

            How are you doing?  

            I agree the hijack thing isn't really HR worthy, and it's very rarely intentional.  But it should be noted 'cuz some of us are just easily confused.  

            by jlynne on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:10:02 AM PDT

            •  I can agree with that

              we're fine, working in the garden and talking about kindergarten. Have house guests and a half re-finished bathroom.  About sums it up.  Hope all is well.

              (I guess I just did my own kind of hijack...)

              by ksh01 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 01:54:06 PM PDT

    •  cut it out...Don't invent reasons to HR people

      patently ridiculous....sometimes someone wants to respond and the diarist for whatever reason posts a later tip jar. There's tons of reasons this can happen and there's no rule, so don't make one up.

      by ksh01 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:04:07 AM PDT

      •  There are indeed

        and this one was "lack of patience". Mind you, I even noted in my original comment that I was hoping for no flame fest, because what everyone has basically done is bury the tip jar deeper. Way to be.

        Anyway.
        Diary posted: 11:53:37 ET
        First Comment: 11:54:08 ET (31 seconds)
        Tip Jar: 11:54:10 ET (2 seconds later)

        It's only fair to be polite and give people time to put their tip jar up. This wasn't a "later" tip jar. It was a 33 seconds later tip jar.

        Is there a rule? Who knows? But I know that if I were listening to someone giving a presentation, and some jerk jumped in to cut off the applause line at the end, I'd be pretty irritated with them. So I applied the same etiquette here. Let a person take their bow, THEN talk. So I tried to hide the first comment and let the tip jar take its proper place at the top.

        Now it's 20 comments deep. Thanks, y'all.

        by Eddie in ME on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:35:30 AM PDT

        •  especially for a rushed, one-line comment

          It's like the equivalent of typing "First".

          Not worth an HR, but it's bad form or at least impolite...

          by MJ via Chicago on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:24:34 AM PDT

    •  Just a note

      The longer the tip jar squabble goes on, the farther down the real one drops. And I just added to that. Doh!

      by heliosfootball on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:31:48 AM PDT

  •  #2 Just Dropped as well... Bob Brady (PA 1)

    http://www.cqpolitics.com/...

    by JeffLieber on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:20:43 AM PDT

    •  whoo whoo!

      YAY! GoBama!

      by louisev on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:23:18 AM PDT

      •  Whoo-hoo Wu!!!

        That's my congressman.  Good for him.

        by LCA on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:06:53 AM PDT

    •  As we used to say...

      ...on the Dean board:

      wOOt!

      by MichaelPH on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:24:22 AM PDT

      •  w08t? n/t

        by Michael D on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:42:21 AM PDT

    •  That's my district!!

      We did great for Obama on Tuesday - he won PA-1 something like 65% to 35%.  My precinct was even higher - 4,000 votes to 1,000.  This is great news.

      by ItsJessMe on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:39:44 AM PDT

    •  not an endorsement, all but an endorsement

      I don't know what to make of that.

      by ruthhmiller on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:44:40 AM PDT

    •  And apparently #3...

      I dunno - read this, by John Zogby:

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

      He's a SD.  Who knew?

      Has his vote already been counted in the SD Diaries?

      Sounds pretty firm...

      by Jaime Frontero on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:49:11 AM PDT

  •  299 delegates on the wall

    299 delegates
    if one of those people should ...

    by wystler on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:44:41 AM PDT

•  Tip Jar

  by Oreo on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:54:10 AM PDT

  •  Oreo ..

    Did you know you can post a tip jar prior to publishing your diary? Just click on the greyed-out "Post a Comment" link next to "Edit Diary" to add your tip jar.

    (I inadvertantly jumped your tip jar yesterday and felt bad about it).

    by jeepdad on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:59:23 AM PDT

    •  It's ok

      I posted the tip jar 2 seconds after the diary

      People are understandably jumpy. No biggy

      by Oreo on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:08:08 AM PDT

      •  But if I can't find the tip jar at the top I feel

        that I'm being disenfranchised.  Doesn't my vote count, too?  If the tip jar isn't at the top, isn't it true that older voters might not be able to find it, therefore, the younger, faster voters are getting an unfair advantage?
            I don't think younger voters should count.  Or activists.  Activists always show up early and jump the tip jar.  And I couldn't find the tip jar because there is an angry black preacher yelling on the TV, and the TV is telling me that we can't afford Obama, he's just not right for America, And Obama lost PA by 38 points, and his campaign is in trouble, BIG trouble, Sean and Joe and Bill-o and Pat said so, and OMG, where's the FREAKIN' TIP JAR!
          This diary doesn't count anyway.  Only diaries with the tip jar at the top are important.

        by haremoor on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:23:51 AM PDT

        •  I think that might be funny.

          I'm not sure, though.  I'm going to have that focus-grouped.

          (I've always wanted to turn "focus-group" into a past tense verb-it was every bit as satisfying as I thought it would be, and maybe even a bit more)

          by mellowinman on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:35:23 AM PDT

        •  You're funny :) nt

          by miss scout finch on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:42:21 AM PDT

          •  Are you any relation...

            to scout finch?

            by mayan on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:22:47 AM PDT

        •  asdf

          Oreo seems to be doing well enough in gathering tips from the crowd.

          Don't we all have better things to worry about?

          And don't I as well?

          by wystler on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:48:41 AM PDT

          •  But every tip...

            that drips into Oreo's mojo jar is...um...a drip closer to sealing the deal.  Right?  Or something like that.

            by mayan on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:33:58 AM PDT

            •  Sounds good to me....

              I think?

              by Oreo on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 12:49:54 PM PDT

      •  Great point!

        People get on edge.  Who cares?  Not me, man!

        Great diary; have a lovely day.  Oh, and feel free to have a shot of something if you drink, or just breathe, if you do that.

        Here's to breathing!

        (I'm curious about those who don't)

        by mellowinman on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:34:18 AM PDT

    •  Maybe...

      ...Oreo had to go potty after posting, have ya ever thought of that?? Hmmm?? All that morning joe and all...

      by MichaelPH on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:26:13 AM PDT

      •  I usually have to visit the potty after Morning J

        Joe.

        Oh, I thought you meant Scarborough, and I meant TO PUKE.

        by mellowinman on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:36:00 AM PDT

  •  Thanks, we needed this! And please check out--

    the thoughtful, if also very pointed, back and forth conversation with Super Delegate Deb Kozikowski about why she hasn't endorsed at The Field in the thread A Rural Advantage.

    I confess that I no longer have any patience with Super Delegates who know they are supporting Obama not speaking up. We need them to speak out against racist demogoguery and war mongering. Just my view, but I am losing respect for these "undecided"--or unannounced Super Delegates.

    Just my view, I know, and I also know I could never run a political campaign.

    by cultural worker on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:16:35 AM PDT

    •  Interesting

      I couldn't read the whole thread, but what I did gather from the parts of the exchange I saw she should have solid reasons for endorsing Clinton but is holding off. Prefers Obama on other issues? Definitely seems to be hoping/urging he will make some stronger efforts to court the rural vote.

      by Catte Nappe on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:50:06 AM PDT

  •  I want to dip you in...

    ...milk till you get soggy!! Awesome!!!

    by MichaelPH on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:25:03 AM PDT

•  I've been waiting for this all day!

  Thanks for getting it out so fast!

  by ItsJessMe on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:54:45 AM PDT

•  I think the strategy will be to announce

  at least one more per day than Hillary until NC and IN.

  by Clyde the Cat on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:55:18 AM PDT

  •  I think 2

    morning and afternoon

    by Oreo on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:10 AM PDT

  •  Strategy - Super D lead by Indiana/NC

    Pace them at 2 or 3 a day - then maybe a big push on the weekend before.  The Big Mo for the Big O!

    by Last Best Chance on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:11:32 AM PDT

•  Thank you for the good news!

  Perhaps the Supers will finally take action and save the Democratic Party from destruction by the Clintons.

  by Morgan Sandlin on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:55:31 AM PDT

  •  We need so very few of them at this point

    What with the amazing strategy of winning more delegates than Clinton. :)

    by rdxtion on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:02 AM PDT

•  Wuhoo! Thanks Representative Wu!

  Drip Drip drip

  by Vachey on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:56:17 AM PDT

  •  I respectfully disagree...

    These aren't drips...they are each a heavy blow of a hammer nailing down the nomination!!!

    by Morgan Sandlin on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:05 AM PDT

    •  Nails in a coffin

      Bang
      Bang
      Bang

      That probably sounds pretty sucky from the inside.

      by briefer on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:03:18 AM PDT

•  Wu on NPR this morning

  I could swear that he said he was waiting to decide who to endorse. Interesting that he announces the same day that NPR story plays.

  by Erin in Flagstaff on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:56:39 AM PDT

•  Damn Oreo...

  You scooped Halperin it looks like.  I just checked looking for my favorite Obama Superman...

  Keep the drip coming, just like the NYT and LATimes says.  

  by JTRicher on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:57:01 AM PDT

•  The SDs

  are marching one by one.

  by loud zoo on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:57:36 AM PDT

  •  "Give me some men (and women)"

    "Who are stout hearted men (and women)"...  <g>
    "And I'll soon give you ten thousands more"

    by Granny Doc on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:16:43 AM PDT

  •  hurrah, hurrah!

    by blueocean on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:19:56 AM PDT

    •  I always thought..

      that Mark Penn would look great in a Sigmund Romburg extravaganza...You know...bedecked in epaulettes and braid.

      by mayan on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:38:25 AM PDT

•  drip...drip...

  drip...

  by unertl on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:31 AM PDT

•  question. the other two SD's who went for Hilary,

  Did they also announce today or are we to include them in her already existing total?

  by ruthhmiller on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:58:53 AM PDT

  •  Already announced /nt

    by SLKRR on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:01:08 AM PDT

  •  Which 2 SDs??

    by soms on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:01:33 AM PDT

    •  The two mentioned in the quoted article /nt

      by SLKRR on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:02:21 AM PDT

    •  I thin ruth is referring to the Gov. and a Rep.

      "Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley are supporting New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."

      (from the quote in the diary)

      by Brainwrap on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:02:41 AM PDT

      •  They had already announced I guess

        Expect McClinton to rehash some old endorsements to counter BO's new ones. She knows that the ignoramuses that are the press corps and the MSM will swallow her spin.

        by soms on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:05:39 AM PDT

      •  yes thank you nt

        by ruthhmiller on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:09:07 AM PDT

    •  Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley

      From Oregon. Hopefully the governor doesn't have a machine equal to that of Rendell's...

      by davebert on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:04:24 AM PDT

      •  I read there's no machine in Oregon. nt

        by venatrix on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:38 AM PDT

      •  This governor has no machine

        He was our candidate and he's done a fine job but he's not great at building coalitions by himself.

        by skywaker9 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:50:03 AM PDT

        •  fine job? grumble, grumble n/t

          by worldwideellen on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 11:11:38 AM PDT

    •  Article (fr. 22 m ago) says she got one yesterday

      Doesn't say who, but not the 2 from Oregon who had already endorsed her.

      by orangeuglad on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:08:38 AM PDT

      •  yup she got a OH SD yesterday

        but BO got 2 yesterday and 2 today.

        by soms on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:18:18 AM PDT

        •  Cool!!! n/t

          by orangeuglad on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 11:04:13 AM PDT

  •  They announced a while back

    And unfortunately Hooley isn't likely to change nor is Kulongoski (he is campaigning for her today actually).  I love Governor Kulongoski but sometimes the guy seems like he has zero political acumen, only policy skill.

    by skywaker9 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:05:21 AM PDT

  •  I think it is really funny

    Clinton keeps announcing Super Delegates that have already declared, I guess to keep it from looking so bad that she is not getting any.  The problem is, if she actually does get any to switch she has already diluted their impact and a lot of people will just discount them as already declared.

    by dan667 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:05:32 AM PDT

    •  To be fair...

      Obama announced 3 supers from NC yesterday that had already announced.

      Of course several news sources took them as being new.

      by Oreo on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:13:04 AM PDT

      •  It is a bit different I think

        The vast majority of announcements have been new for Barack.  For Clinton, only one of the last 10 I can remember was a new one.  She has diluted any benefit of announcing a new one.

        by dan667 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:31:18 AM PDT

    •  I'm seeing the future

      On 4/26 3 states that Hillary won are selecting their add-on SD (AZ, NH, NM). How much do you want to bet that she spins this as a massive movement of supers moving her way?

      by heliosfootball on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:15:38 AM PDT

  •  Already announced I believe

    The governor has been for Clinton for a long time. He campaigned for her in IA I believe. I think they are only mentioned because they are from OR.

    by jj32 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:07:51 AM PDT

•  She has no chance as it is

  and every super endorsement just makes her odds worser and worser.
  :)

  by citizenx on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:59:32 AM PDT

•  There'a another superdelegate

  I was reading about this morning (NYT?) who said he supports Obama, he just hasn't decided when the appropriate time is to announce. i'll have to go find it ..

  by jeepdad on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:02:10 AM PDT

  •  Brady from PA?

    http://www.cqpolitics.com/...

    by BennyToothpick on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:59 AM PDT

    •  Yep!!

      Obama’s Win in Philly District Sways Superdelegate Brady
      By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
      Pennsylvania Rep. Robert A. Brady all but endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary Wednesday, a day after Obama handily won Brady’s Philadelphia district.

      Brady, who is chairman of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia County, indicated the only question surrounding his impeding endorsement of Obama is the timing.

      "I’m not going against my district," Brady told CQ Politics on Wednesday. "I haven’t made a decision about when and where."

      by jeepdad on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:15:03 AM PDT

      •  But

        He hasn't yet made it official.  Let's not count our chickens before they hatched.

        by jbjowe on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:16:04 AM PDT

        •  Yes, there's the official blood signing

          and then you have to give the party a goat.

          by frankzappatista on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:25:28 AM PDT

•  drip, drip, drip . . .

  then a trickle, trickle . . .

  and then the most meaningful surge?

  by teacherken on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:02:37 AM PDT

  •  Hey, that's the genesis of mountain streams

    that carve out epic canyons.

    Drip, drip. drip...

    Time and pressure and erosion.  Phenomena which HillSniper is growing increasingly acquainted.

    by jre2k8 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:17:11 AM PDT

•  So, if he get's 2/day

  at this rate he'll be even with her in Supers in 11 days.  Then what will be Hillary's new argument?  Will supers become unimportant and boutique?

  by middleagedhousewife on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:03:00 AM PDT

  •  re

    East question, she's just pull a new excuse out of her Cheney.

    by cookiesandmilk on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:04:28 AM PDT

  •  It's a matter of weight: only big supers matter..

    by Kab ibn al Ashraf on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:05:13 AM PDT

    •  Cool...

      Ted Kennedy should be worth 3...and I'm ordering Krispy Kremes for the rest :)

      by Morgan Sandlin on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:27 AM PDT

    •  Uh oh

      Better feed Rep. Wu some cheeseburgers and fries.

      by clambake on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:56 AM PDT

      •  Yeah.

        Beef up, slim.

        by jre2k8 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:17:41 AM PDT

    •  Crap, so Jerrold Nadler actually gets 50 votes?

      We're screwed.

      by typo ink on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:12:15 AM PDT

      •  Donna B can counter that

        ...sorry, that was mean.

        by Kab ibn al Ashraf on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:15:22 AM PDT

  •  Supers will be latte-sipping OJ-drinkers

    ...who don't need a President.

    And who can't bowl.

    by SLKRR on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:07 AM PDT

•  I knew my Congressman was good

  Wu represents my district.  Good for him!  He saw the writing on the wall (that his district is solidly Obama territory) and went with that.

  by skywaker9 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:04:08 AM PDT

  •  So are Oregonians already voting? Don't you

    have vote by mail?  Is he running ads there?

    How does that work?

    by Kab ibn al Ashraf on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:06:01 AM PDT

    •  Obama is, ballots on 5/2

      Ballots go out next Friday.  Obama has been running ads in pretty heavy rotation for the last few weeks.

      by skywaker9 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:08:12 AM PDT

    •  Yes, we vote by mail.

      Ballots will start arriving in early May. As for ads, several days ago I began hearing them on KPOJ (our progressive radio station). Not sure about "regular" TV stations, since I rarely watch 'em.

      by Reel Woman on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 09:12:32 AM PDT

      •  Do the college kids just pick a ballot up from

        the local library, post office, or whatever then?

        Sorry for the questions.  I want this to be over on the 6th, but it may take Oregon to finally put it away.

        by