Virginia superdelegate flips to Obama

File this under Beginning of the End: One of the four superdelegates that pledged their support to Obama today was Virginia DNC member Jennifer McClellan, who flipped, after having been a declared Hillary supporter.

The more superdelegates the better, obviously, but following Joe Andrew last week, the more Hillary's base begins to crumble, the more she will have the realization forced upon her that the pyrrhic attempt to get the Michigan and Florida delegations seated in a way that puts her over the top is not a plausible scenario.

Sorry for the short diary :)

•  I flip over flippers

  Meanwhile Hill flips the bird.

  by droogie6655321 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:36:33 PM PDT

  •  I flip, I flop.

    I just
    Can't stop.

    by SensibleShoes on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:39:52 PM PDT

    •  I've been swingin'

      on the flippity flop.  

      Rock on, lamestains.

      by johnny rotten on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:44:02 PM PDT

    •  Screw Switchers we have a sink hole!

      Superdelegtes huh?  Where is our Sink Hole Expert??? Yes, MSNBC grazed over the news as a campaign alert and are going crazy over a sink hole developing in TX.  I have to admit, the hole is pretty cool cause it's the size of 2 football fields and a large chemical tank is on the edge, but come one.  Today is the day of days for politics.

      Oh well, back to the hole.

      by ourhispanicvoices on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:44:07 PM PDT

      •  I resent that the sinkhole is taking time

        away from shark-attack coverage.

        by trivium on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:46:58 PM PDT

        •  hmm, sink hole is apparently one word, oops,

          by ourhispanicvoices on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:48:54 PM PDT

        •  Whose going to look for blonde white girls?

          Priorities, people!

          by Sharon Jumper on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:55:23 PM PDT

      •  Not a sink hole.

        The Bushes are just digging a bigger outhouse 'cuz the s**t is getting so deep.

        by DWKING on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:50:21 PM PDT

      •  It's not even really a sinkhole

        at least as far as I understand the concept. You can see a body of water at the base - it's just a crumbling river bank or something. A big broad crumble, to be sure, but nothing all that peculiar.

        Loved the way the newsreader interrupted the person who was answering a question she asked to declare there was more dirt tumbling down the bank and all must go on hold while we behold this miraculous repositioning of dirt.

        by flaky draky on Wed May 07, 2008 at 02:01:01 PM PDT

  •  Two for the price of one...

    Loving it!!!!  More.  I want more flippers.

    by mayan on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:46:16 PM PDT

    •  That is why these are the best SD pickups

      for Obama, because it comes from Hillary's own SD pool, signifying that something is really going wrong within the house of Clinton.

      by BonzoDogBand on Wed May 07, 2008 at 02:12:15 PM PDT

  •  Have you ever seen her? Talk about "flipping"...

    I live here in Richmond, VA, and lemme tell you...she is a very intelligent, beautiful and incredibly poised young woman with more class than you can measure.

    I just saw her the other day at a Mark Warner event, this is great news.

    by phriendlyjaime on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:48:13 PM PDT

    •  Virginia House of Delegates 71st District

      Jennifer McClellan

      by Jim W on Wed May 07, 2008 at 02:01:26 PM PDT

•  Tip Jar

  Add this also to McGovern -- is he a super delegate? -- and it becomes increasingly clear that even if Hillary does intend to fight tooth and nail to the bitter end, she may not have the support to do so.

  by nussbaumski on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:37:06 PM PDT

  •  Reportedly, he isn't a superdelegate.

    Though his endorsement is nice to have nonetheless.

    by Choom Gang Vets for Truth on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:38:07 PM PDT

    •  Odd, isn't it?

      I mean what's he done not to be a superdelegate, if we're gonna have superdelegates at all?

      by SensibleShoes on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:09 PM PDT

      •  Doesn't hold office now.

        And didn't hold the qualifying offices for emeritus status:  Speakers of the House, Senate Majority Leaders, Heads of the DNC, former Presidents and Vice Presidents.  (Mondale & Gore in the Veep category...)

        Anyhow, the supers won't let this get that far into a fight.  And, ironically, thereby serving a function like they were intended for.  It's taking so long, and requires a little patience.  But it's going the right way.

        by Land of Enchantment on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:47:18 PM PDT

        •  Ah! Thanks. n/t

          by WaitingForGodot on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:48:19 PM PDT

        •  But those freaky kids on youtube?

          If they're superdelegates, it does seem like McGovern should be. He's done more.

          by SensibleShoes on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:49:23 PM PDT

      •  That's kind of a cute angle

        to ask the question "what's he done not to be".  When do you lose superdelegate status, under what type of scenarios?  

        by WaitingForGodot on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:47:21 PM PDT

  •  McGovern is NOT a superdelegate

    I thought so this morning, but he isnt.

    by jj32 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:38:11 PM PDT

    •  too bad

      But still an important enough member of the party that it's nice to have, and is news worthy.

      Really, my only remaining concern is that Hillary would really try to pull out all the stops, Democratic Party be damned -- but if she doesn't have everyone on her side standing unwaveringly behind her, it's a non-starter.

      Clearly there is some wavering going on.

      by nussbaumski on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:40:17 PM PDT

    •  This is beginning to be like...

      a joke.  

      Generalissimo Franco is still dead. McGovern is STILL not a superdelegate.  No matter how much we want him to be...No matter how much he should be...He's not a superdelegate.  AND it's come up in just about EVERY superdelegate diary today.  

      by mayan on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:48:16 PM PDT

•  why is that mean obama taking that poor hillary's

  superdelegates stop being mean to her :(((((((((((((((

  by Choom Gang Vets for Truth on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:37:33 PM PDT

•  anyone know what's up with demconwatch?

  They are about 3-4 Obama delegates behind but previously seemed to up-to-date?  Disappointed Clinton supporters?  Too much "regular" work?

  by flor de jasmim on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:38:18 PM PDT

  •  some supers have probably not officially

    endorsed Obama yet. So that could be it.

    by jj32 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:42:53 PM PDT

  •  Er, they are up to date

    Or at most they are just behind by this one - and I wouldn't blame them for not posting this one, because they always wait for a reliable source with a direct from-the-super's-mouth confirmation of their endorsement to link to, and this AP report wouldn't qualify. Incidentally, MSNBC First Read also reported it as "AP says that she flipped, we're trying to confirm".

    Oreo and company who run DCW are Obama supporters and Kossacks, by the way.

    by sab39 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:43:26 PM PDT

•  In a show of defiance, Clinton should burn

  her consultants.

  by iconoclastic cat on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:39:46 PM PDT

  •  I'd vote for her...

    ...if she would actually burn Mark Penn alive. On television. It's the only way she could ever get my vote.

    by DarkOmnius on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:43:51 PM PDT

    •  On PPV: "Charcoal Mark" Penn

      All proceeds going towards the inevitable HRC victory.

      by trivium on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:50:59 PM PDT

•  She counts as 2 superdelegates

  Subtract 1 superdelegate and add 1 for Obama.  

  by ROh70 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:40:00 PM PDT

  •  Subtract one from HRC, add one for Obama

    So, today, even though HRC picked up Shuler, he's still up +4 superdelegates.  

    by ROh70 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:53 PM PDT

  •  Believe the technical term is super-duper

    delegate.

    by FudgeFighter on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:59:24 PM PDT

•  A flipper?

  Even better than an uncommitted!

  by LauraC on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:40:19 PM PDT

  •  Twice as good, plus shadenfreude. nt

    by MAORCA on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:54:37 PM PDT

•  one of the best nights I ever had was with a

  flipper, but it was so long ago that maybe I'm thinking of a flapper?

  by Lepanto on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:40:27 PM PDT

  •  23 Skiddoo!! nt

    by Gooserock on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:29 PM PDT

  •  Kitchen utensils rule.

    by SensibleShoes on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:42:06 PM PDT

  •  You are the cat's pajamas....eom

    by cyncynical on Wed May 07, 2008 at 02:05:36 PM PDT

•  i wish that counter would turn already...

  every time i log on, i look for it.

  by jj24 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:40:32 PM PDT

  •  so do I, compulsively!

    by Lepanto on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:13 PM PDT

  •  I know!

    It reminds of how I used to sit in class looking at my watch 15 times a minute -- time can move so slowly sometimes. What is it waiting for? Same question to you, superdelegates :)

    by nussbaumski on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:59 PM PDT

•  Superdelegates are waiting for the states to vote

  I believe that most of the superdelegates who have not yet committed to a candidate are waiting because they believe that the states should finish the primary votes before they commit. They know that if they commit in numbers that would give Obama the needed number that the remaining states would seem like unimportant staes again. In this most interesgting close race, leaving the number open so all states get to vote can be a strong motive for many superdelegates to remain silent.

  Like a chess board with "check mate in five moves", it is clear that Obama has won the nomination, and it only remains for the end game to be played out.

  by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:37 PM PDT

  •  Totally agree

    At this point, I think it's pretty clear that we're going to see every state and territory vote, but that things aren't going to go on too much longer after that.

    by nussbaumski on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:43:05 PM PDT

  •  sorry, but my states' supers declared before our

    caucus - and some haven't declared long after we've had it (WA).

    sorry, this argument DOESN'T WASH with only, like what?  FIVE states to go?

    nope.  thanks for playing, try again.

    by jj24 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:48:29 PM PDT

•  Got to love those twofers!

  by egarratt on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:41:40 PM PDT

•  She's a supersized superdelegate n/t

  by ROh70 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:43:02 PM PDT

•  That's awesome!!!

  Jennifer is MY (very proud am I) state representative.  I did not realize she was a super.  Boy am I glad to hear she came around.  She is great, I am lucky to have such able representation in the Statehouse.

  by Thaddaeus Toad on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:43:39 PM PDT

•  Ellsworth

  According to MSNBC Indiana Congressman Brad Ellsworth just like Heath Shuler earlier has endorsed Hillary citing she has overwelmingly carried his District.
  SD Count Today
  Obama 4
  Clinton 1

  by Daniel Gruhn on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:45:16 PM PDT

•  Virginia is for Obama...n/t

  by don mikulecky on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:47:57 PM PDT

•  My head explodes

  Sorry for the short diary :)

  You should be. But .. I actually found this informative. So I need to be the rules nazi and still say thanks. Brargh brain hurts.

  by maxomai on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:50:38 PM PDT

•  Makin' Flippy-flop

  Doctor, doctor, we got nothin' left to offer...

  by kingubu on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:52:32 PM PDT

•  Everyone who has senators or congress

  in their area should email them. I wrote to both of my senators (WA) who are for Obama and told them if this doesn't end soon we might as well just hand this to McCain and plan on a non ending war.

  They are both against the war so I asked them to think about it and either come forward or at very least talk to Hillary.

  I think it matters more if we are from the state so everyone who has Hillary folks in their state, write them today!!

  by marlakay on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:56:14 PM PDT

  •  man I am losing it today....

    I meant my senators who are for Hillary...

    I was up late last night, can you tell???

    by marlakay on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:58:59 PM PDT

  •  I wrote Jay Inslee

    and threatened to run against him if he did mend his endorsement.  Jay knows me well enough to know I mean it.

    by Robinswing on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:59:00 PM PDT

•  Another damned

  JUDAS!!!

  Angry 3 AM phone call to follow.

  by chumley on Wed May 07, 2008 at 01:57:36 PM PDT

•  Hillary introduced Jennifer to politics...

  this is huge and a barn burner.
  Jennifer is very big in Va politics.

  by lgb30856 on Wed May 07, 2008 at 02:21:02 PM PDT