Kaine OK With Efforts to Persuade Superdelegates

Tim Craig

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today he's not opposed to efforts by Democratic officials to persuade superdelegates from Virginia to support Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the national convention in August.

At a news conference this morning, Kaine (D) said he is also "having conversations with superdelegates all the time."

"Superdelegates are getting communications from a lot of people, so folks communicating with the undecided by saying 'hey come for Senator Obama', it's all part of persuasion," said Kaine, one of Obama's national co-chairmen. "We are in a persuasion game here by trying to get those uncommitted to commit."

On Monday, the leaders of about 40 Democratic county and city committees in Virginia sent a letter to the state's superdelegates pressuring them to endorse Obama. The leaders, who have also launched an online petition, included the chairmen of the Arlington, Prince William and Fairfax county Democratic committees. They noted that Obama won Virginia's Feb. 12 primary with 64 percent of the vote.


Kaine and the state's three Democrats in the U.S. House, all superdelegates, back Obama. But Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) holds a slight overall edge in Virginia superdelegates. Several superdelegates from Virginia, including Sen. James Webb (D-Va) and state party chairman C. Richard Cranwell, are uncommitted.

Some of the superdelegates who support Clinton have indicated they were offended by the letter from party officials. But Kaine said he doesn't "have a problem" with the effort.

Kaine added, however, he's confident Obama will be the nominee. Kaine said he expects a lot of superdelegates will migrate to Obama in early May, after Indiana and North Carolina hold primaries.

"I think it will be very clear by that point that Senator Obama has a lead among pledged delegates that cannot be overcome and I think, at that point, that is a very important thing for superdelegates to consider," Kaine said. "Many superdelegates will make it clear they support Senator Obama and make it plain he will be the nominee."

But Webb said Sunday he doesn't feel bound to support the candidate who is ahead in pledged delegates.

By Tim Craig |  April 9, 2008; 11:49 AM ET  | Category:  Election 2008/President , Tim Craig , Timothy M. Kaine
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The longer this race continues the more it becomes clear that Senator Clinton will say almost anything to get elected. Her explanation of her war vote and the thousands of positions since then are a case in point. She started by voting to authorize the use of force as a show of support for inspections. She made a point of telling our president that it was not a vote for war. She didn't think Pres Bush would use the vote to immediately start a war. Just what planet was she living on at the time. When a politician votes to go to war don't pretend that your vote meant anything other than that. The constitution authorizes the house and senate to declare war not, vote for the use of force to use coercive diplomacy. Her positions would be funny if not so serious!!!!

Posted by: Rob D | April 9, 2008 1:21 PM

well RobD...here's another way to look at HRC's Iraq vote....ANY president would want the AUTHORITY to launch a war...whether and how and under what circumstances that authority is used is really at the core of that issue. no one wants to give credence to HRC's rationale that she gave bush that authority while at the same time noting that he was expected to use that authority only as a last resort and in the BEST interest of the american people. obviously, that did not happen. HRC has said before that, having been in the white house herself, it is a distinction that she makes (and would make) as president...she would want that authority but would use it thoughfully and responsibily. That BO did not have the luxury of having to make a hard decision one way or the other means nothing nor says anything about his judgement being better against HRC. Furthermore, I find it interesting that the media and of many of BO's supporters quickly point to her many lies...yet, are blind to the many lies that BO continuously tells now and in the past which for which he is never called on. His supporters actually believe his is different....at least we know HRC is a political animal that knows the ways of washington....BO tries to sound as if he is not a politician like all the rest when in fact, HE IS! Even though is is a politician like all the rest, he is a novice politician still wet behind the ears. Sadly, this country is going to blunder (again) by choosing a neophyte to run this great country of ours and thus will spend the next few years screwing things up for us before getting a handle on things but not well enough to get himself re-elected...something I'm sure HRC would have no problem doing just as her husband did't either.

Posted by: Anonymous | April 9, 2008 2:18 PM

Gov. Kaine is absolutely wrong.

All Super Delegates are party officials with years of experience, most of them elected in their own right. They are quite capable of judging for themselves what is the right thing to do, whether it is supporting the candidate they think has the best chance, or the one that won their congressional disterict, thought it seems to me that the former is clearly the better decision.

Pressuring them, threatening them, black-mailing them is clearly wrong.

Posted by: pKrishna43 | April 9, 2008 2:22 PM

Krishna, who is "threatening" or "black-mailing" anyone? Give me a break--this is quite the overreaction to a letter that simply ASKS superdelegates, for the good of the Democratic Party, to consider committing to support Barack Obama, as the vast majority of Virginina primary voters did. It is correct to say that they do not HAVE TO support that candidate, and as superdelegates they have every right to support the candidate of their choice. However, simply asking them to reconsider is completely appropriate, and also VERY MUCH a part of the process that the Clinton supporters keep saying must play out.

Stop misrepresenting the good intentions of people.

Posted by: Doug in Mount Vernon | April 11, 2008 12:44 PM

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