The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to Obama en masse?

by Pat Flatley, Fri May 23, 2008 at 02:54:32 PM EST

Al Giordano of The Field has proven to be an excellent, plugged-in blogger during this election cycle.  And, as it turns out, he might just have the scoop of the cycle:

The endorsement by US Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-California) of Obama today sends an extremely firm message to the Clinton campaign, and not only because he was, until today, a Clinton superdelegate.

The Field has learned that Cardoza is the first of a group of at least 40 Clinton delegates, many of them from California, that through talking among themselves came to a joint decision that all of them would vote for Obama at the convention. They have informed Senator Clinton that it's time to unite around Obama, and that they will be coming out, one or two at a time, and announcing their switch between now and the convention if Senator Clinton doesn't do the same.

Cardoza is one of the leaders of this effort (which includes not only superdelegates, but here's something that should set off some paranoia in Camp Clinton: there are pledged Clinton delegates in "The Cardoza 40," too). One Field Hand reports that during a recent Cardoza fundraising event in California the effort was discussed openly in front of other Democrats. Cardoza's announcement, today, sent the message that the effort is serious and for real.

This is not "excellent news for Hillary Clinton."

An exodus of 40 delegates from Clinton to Obama, mathematically, increases his lead by 80 delegates, because she loses one for every one he gains.

You can read the rest here:

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1258

We shall see...




Tags: Superdelegates, Cardoza, mass exodus (all tags)

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Drip. (none / 0)

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.


Obama/Clark (still dreaming)
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 23, 2008 at 02:59:30 PM EST

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (none / 0)

Thanks, Dennis. It's way past time we turned the focus to McSame, where the attention belongs.


by vermontprog on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:00:42 PM EST

Re: The Cardoza 40: Al Giordano's massive scoop (none / 0)

Interesting.  Local coverage (SF Chron.) of the California convention indicated that her support was strong and that both sides were sticking to there guns, albeit amiably.  My guess, from the following Cardoza quote, is that Clinton's recent posturing over counting FL/MI as is, is turning off the party people.

Cardoza:  "I will not support changing the rules in the fourth quarter of this contest through some convoluted DNC rules committee process."


by haystax calhoun on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:01:25 PM EST

supers, Yes!, pledged, not so much (none / 0)

I'm all for the supers switching, but I have to say I don't like the idea of pledged delegates turncoating - unless there are some kind of exigent circumstances we're not aware of.


by emptythreatsfarm on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:02:22 PM EST

Re: supers, Yes!, pledged, not so much (none / 0)

Maybe she's morphed into someone they didn't know.


by Becky G on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:04:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: supers, Yes!, pledged, not so much (none / 0)

I agree with you at this point in the game.  

Although I think after voting is completed in June, if Clinton has not dropped out all bets are off.  That is exactly what should happen at that point.  Delegates would have to give her no support and no reason to continue on to the convention, in order to wrap this thing up.


by Tenafly Viper on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:18:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: supers, Yes!, pledged, not so much (none / 0)

Agreed.

She earned those delegates and deserves them.  If she releases them at the convention, that's her prerogative.  But I don't support either side poaching the pledged delegates.


Donate to Obama, Today!
by freedom78 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 04:07:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: supers, Yes!, pledged, not so much (none / 0)

I agree that pledged delegates switching is not very nice, even if some time back Hillary said it would be perfectly ok (but maybe she envisioned them switching the other way). Much better than supers switch, I guess.
by french imp on Fri May 23, 2008 at 04:23:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: supers, Yes!, pledged, not so much (none / 0)

Obama has NOT been counting the PDs who change on his website.


http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!
by yitbos96bb on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:12:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (none / 0)

Wow, that really would be game over.  It explains a lot of the chatter going on today.


by interestedbystander on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:03:33 PM EST

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (none / 0)

I don't like pledged delegates switching, either, and the Obama campaign has not been included faithless delegates in its pledged delegate count.  


by ProfessorReo on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:06:53 PM EST

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (none / 0)

So much for the will of the people! Wherever she wins, the SDs switch or vote for Obama.


by Actright on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:09:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Al Giordano (none / 0)

Heh.  He made an Idiotic reference.  Cool.



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:07:36 PM EST

Re: Al Giordano (none / 0)

Because of your link I made my first visit to Hillary is 44. The intensity there is scary. I hope they'll be OK.


by Becky G on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:15:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Giordano (none / 0)

Scary place, that.


Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing glove.
by fogiv on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:44:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (none / 0)

The same the field that said Clinton had personally asked Obama to be his VP and he turned her down yesterday quoting some mythical unnamed sources , and quite a few Obama supporters on this blog believed his crap.

You would think some would have learned their lesson.


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:10:51 PM EST

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (2.00 / 1)

It's not like The Field was the only to report these talks on vp. It's in the NY Times today, Time yesterday, etc.  So I don't know why you're dissing Al. He is not always right, but he has been right far more often than the frontpagers here.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:17:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thanks for the article... (none / 0)

It makes a lot of sense here in California since the latest polling suggests that a lot Clinton supporters are feeling buyer's remorse.  Even latino's, who were somehow considered a demographic unfavorable to Obama (although I never understood that) have been turning to Obama in large numbers.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/camp aign-2008/2008/05/22/new-poll-finds-big- shift-toward-obama.html


by Tenafly Viper on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:12:31 PM EST

oops, here is the article... (none / 0)

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/camp aign-2008/2008/05/22/new-poll-finds-big- shift-toward-obama.html


by Tenafly Viper on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:22:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Cardoza 40: Clinton Delegates to Switch to (none / 0)

As an Obama supporter this is an interesting rumor, but that is all it is at this point. A rumor.


Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.
by jsfox on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:32:08 PM EST

The Field... (none / 0)

is the same group that started the VP rumor.....


by nikkid on Fri May 23, 2008 at 03:45:32 PM EST


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