Here are some Frequently Asked Questions, after I made phone calls to all of Senate District 1 delegates and alternates.
Question: Are there going to be any more meetings before the State Convention?
Answer: At the moment there hasn't been any meetings scheduled, but if you'll want to meet on the Tuesday night at a local restaurant, that would be great. I will send you the time, and meeting where we are going to meet.
Question: What happen to the 3 delegates that where omitted on the list sent into the state's party office?
Answer: The three delegates that where omitted, where actual delegates and that problem has been addressed and taken care of.
Question: I am an alternate do I have to attend the state convention?
Answer: As an alternate, you are not obligated to attend the convention, but it would be a great opportunity for you to attend, if you want to see how the process works.
Question: I am an alternate and I want to be a delegate, is there anyway possible I can be put on the list?
Answer: There hasn't been a State Delegate from Senate District One, that has dropped out or have said they would be unable to attend. If this does happen, then I will work accordingly to get someone to fill the position.
Question: I made reservation at a Hotel in Austin, but I didn't get convention rate, can I still get the rate?
Answer: A lot of individuals have ran into this situation, if you booked online, the system doesn't tell you that all the convention rate rooms where full. If you have questions about the convention rate please contact Isabella at the Texas Democrat State office in Austin.
The convention is close, I am excited and I hope you are. If you have any questions or concerns you are welcome to comment on the blog, or e-mail me. Always remember to check the blog for up to date information about the Democratic Election process.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Senate District One Meeting
Senate Dist.One
On May 31,2008 we will have a pre-convention
caucus. It will be at the IBEW Union Hall at 1405 N.
will begin at 2:PM. Nancy Brannon,chief of Staff for
Mark Homer, will conduct the meeting and tell us what
to do and what to expect at the convention.
All county chairs or leaders of you delegation are ask
to be present.
Johnny Weaver
Sources: Dems could meet Florida, Michigan halfway
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Democratic Party is likely to meet rule-breaking Florida and Michigan halfway when it comes to seating their delegates at the national convention, two members of the rules committee said Wednesday.
Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is pushing for a plan to seat as many Florida and Michigan delegates as possible.
1 of 2
Such a move may help Sen. Hillary Clinton close the delegate gap with front-runner Sen. Barack Obama but not overtake him, said sources familiar with party deliberations.
The sources did not want to be identified because the full committee has not discussed the problem or ruled on it.
The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee meets Saturday in Washington to consider what to do with Florida and Michigan, which broke ranks to hold primaries earlier than party rules allowed.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Hotel Information For State Convention
The following Hotels still have availability for The State Convention held June 5-7, 2008.
Most Hotels are already booked up but I have found a couple hotels listed below that still have a few rooms left but they are filling up fast so please call to reserve a room ASAP!
We look forward to seeing you there!
La Quinta Ben White 4.5 miles away from the convention center.
4200 I35 South
Austin, Tx 78745
512-443-1774
$105.00 per night for 2 double beds.
Super 8 5 miles from the Convention Center
3120 Montopolis
Austin, Tx 78744
512-334-4130
$109.99 per night for 2 double beds.
Most Hotels are already booked up but I have found a couple hotels listed below that still have a few rooms left but they are filling up fast so please call to reserve a room ASAP!
We look forward to seeing you there!
La Quinta Ben White 4.5 miles away from the convention center.
4200 I35 South
Austin, Tx 78745
512-443-1774
$105.00 per night for 2 double beds.
Super 8 5 miles from the Convention Center
3120 Montopolis
Austin, Tx 78744
512-334-4130
$109.99 per night for 2 double beds.
Obama ready to fight for Western states
This story brought to you from CNN.com
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (AP) -- It's the first event on the first day of a campaign swing through three Western states, and Barack Obama is covering all his bases.
Sen. Barack Obama speaks at a Memorial Day event in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Monday.
He's got patriotism, a Memorial Day event for veterans. He's got cowboys, the location is the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. He's got Hispanic voters, Gov. Bill Richardson introduced him. He's even got a nod to the environment: The Organ Mountains loom behind him as birds sing and the warm New Mexico wind blows.
Obama is signaling, even before the Democratic primary formally wraps up, that he intends to fight this fall for Western states that narrowly went Republican four years ago.
New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado aren't definitely Democratic blue or Republican red. Instead, they're known as "purple states" by political junkies.
Together, they account for only 19 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. But those votes could be vital in a close race, particularly if Obama's weakness among white, blue-collar voters carries over from the primary race and cuts his chance of winning some other states where Democrats usually do well.
"We're going to fight as hard as we can in these states. We want to send the message now that we're going to go after them and I expect to win them," the Illinois senator said Monday.
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (AP) -- It's the first event on the first day of a campaign swing through three Western states, and Barack Obama is covering all his bases.
Sen. Barack Obama speaks at a Memorial Day event in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Monday.
He's got patriotism, a Memorial Day event for veterans. He's got cowboys, the location is the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. He's got Hispanic voters, Gov. Bill Richardson introduced him. He's even got a nod to the environment: The Organ Mountains loom behind him as birds sing and the warm New Mexico wind blows.
Obama is signaling, even before the Democratic primary formally wraps up, that he intends to fight this fall for Western states that narrowly went Republican four years ago.
New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado aren't definitely Democratic blue or Republican red. Instead, they're known as "purple states" by political junkies.
Together, they account for only 19 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. But those votes could be vital in a close race, particularly if Obama's weakness among white, blue-collar voters carries over from the primary race and cuts his chance of winning some other states where Democrats usually do well.
"We're going to fight as hard as we can in these states. We want to send the message now that we're going to go after them and I expect to win them," the Illinois senator said Monday.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sources: Clinton, Obama supporters discuss exit strategies
(CNN) -- Several close friends and supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton said they are seeking a "graceful exit strategy" for Clinton from the race for the Democratic nomination, possibly as part of a joint ticket for the White House.
Sources say Clinton insiders are discussing an exit strategy for the New York senator.
The discussions are not taking place between the campaigns but rather among informal campaign advisers on both sides who are trying to actively influence and shape the debate as the competition nears a close June 3.
Bill Burton, national spokesman for Obama's campaign, said that "there are no talks under way between the campaigns" and that any suggestion from Clinton insiders is "unequivocally untrue."
"We are two campaigns, in real competition, not having any such talks about exit strategies," Burton said.
Obama campaign chief strategist David Axelrod said "there have been zero discussions, back-channel or otherwise, between the campaigns."
Clinton campaign aides also deny that any talks are taking place between the campaigns, emphasizing that the contest is not over. Clinton herself said the report was "flatly untrue" during a meeting with the editorial board of a South Dakota paper Friday.
Sources say Clinton insiders are discussing an exit strategy for the New York senator.
The discussions are not taking place between the campaigns but rather among informal campaign advisers on both sides who are trying to actively influence and shape the debate as the competition nears a close June 3.
Bill Burton, national spokesman for Obama's campaign, said that "there are no talks under way between the campaigns" and that any suggestion from Clinton insiders is "unequivocally untrue."
"We are two campaigns, in real competition, not having any such talks about exit strategies," Burton said.
Obama campaign chief strategist David Axelrod said "there have been zero discussions, back-channel or otherwise, between the campaigns."
Clinton campaign aides also deny that any talks are taking place between the campaigns, emphasizing that the contest is not over. Clinton herself said the report was "flatly untrue" during a meeting with the editorial board of a South Dakota paper Friday.
Clinton explains RFK assassination reference
From Peter HambyCNN Political Producer
BRANDON, South Dakota (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton said Friday that she regretted comments that evoked the June 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy as part of her explanation for why she was staying in the presidential race late into the primary season.
Sen. Hillary Clinton apologized for comments made to a newspaper on Friday.
Earlier Friday afternoon, she told the editorial board of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Argus Leader that "My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said.
Clinton complained that "people have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa" and said that position "historically ... makes no sense."
Later at an event in Brandon, South Dakota, she said, "Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Sen. Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968, and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nominating primary contests that go into June. That's an historic fact." Watch more of Clinton's comments to the editorial board »
"The Kennedys have been much on my mind in the last days because of Sen. [Edward] Kennedy, and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever," Clinton added. Watch Clinton explain her remarks »
Obama: Cuba policy to be based on 'libertad'
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama told Florida's Cuban-American community Friday that his Cuba policy would be based on "libertad" and freedom for the island nation's people.
Sen. Barack Obama speaks at a Cuban Independence Day event in Miami, Florida, on Friday.
"My policy toward Cuba will be guided by one word: 'libertad,' " he said, using the Spanish word for liberty at an event celebrating Cuban Independence Day in Miami, Florida.
"The road to freedom for all Cubans must begin with justice for Cuba's political prisoners, the right of free speech, a free press, freedom of assembly, and it must lead to elections that are free and fair," Obama said. "That is my commitment.
"I won't stand for this injustice; you will not stand for this injustice, and together we will stand up for freedom in Cuba. That will be my commitment as president of the United States of America," he said. Watch Obama call for freedom in Cuba »
Sen. Barack Obama speaks at a Cuban Independence Day event in Miami, Florida, on Friday.
"My policy toward Cuba will be guided by one word: 'libertad,' " he said, using the Spanish word for liberty at an event celebrating Cuban Independence Day in Miami, Florida.
"The road to freedom for all Cubans must begin with justice for Cuba's political prisoners, the right of free speech, a free press, freedom of assembly, and it must lead to elections that are free and fair," Obama said. "That is my commitment.
"I won't stand for this injustice; you will not stand for this injustice, and together we will stand up for freedom in Cuba. That will be my commitment as president of the United States of America," he said. Watch Obama call for freedom in Cuba »
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Obama Starts VP Search
Barack Obama is beginning his search for a running mate, but Sen. John McCain's campaign denies speculation that he's interviewing vice presidential candidates at his home this weekend.
Sen. Barack Obama has quietly begun searching for a vice presidential candidate, a source says.
A veteran Democratic activist told CNN that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has accepted Obama's request to begin a screening and selection process for the No. 2 spot.
Johnson performed a similar role for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004.
Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is hosting top party figures at his home in Arizona this weekend, fueling speculation he is starting his own search for a running mate.
But campaign advisers downplayed the visits, saying the gathering is not a vetting of potential running mates, but only the McCains showing their gratitude to the 18 to 20 guests for their support.
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton declined to comment on the report of his candidate's running mate search.
The source, a party operative who has been involved in Democratic presidential campaigns and conventions for more than 20 years, said the process is "at a very early point" but that campaign workers "have been informally thinking about it for a while."
Obama told CNN Thursday he is not discussing his selection process and does not yet have criteria for a running mate.
"No criteria right now. I still have to win the nomination," he said.
Don't Miss
Election Center 2008
Although Obama is the Democratic front-runner, and has captured a majority of pledged delegates after Tuesday's Kentucky and Oregon primaries, he has not clinched the 2,025 delegates needed to win the nomination against Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Despite the math, Clinton has vowed to remain in the race.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, was surprised Thursday to hear Obama has started a search.
"I did not know that Sen. Obama had started his search for vice president ... but again, when it comes to vice presidents I am not giving any advice unless asked about it by the candidates," she said.
"I think, though, that Hillary Clinton and Sen. Obama, both having a good chance to win the nomination, probably started thinking about who his or her running mate might be, what transition teams they might have, whether they should be briefed by the White House ... on issues of concern to our country," Pelosi said.
Among the guests expected at McCain's ranch in Sedona, Arizona, are Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- one of McCain's former rivals for the GOP presidential nomination.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, another formal rival, was invited but cannot attend, a source close to Huckabee said.
Other guests, according to an adviser, include Kansas senator and former Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, FedEx founder Fred Smith and senior adviser Charlie Black.
But senior McCain adviser Charlie Black told CNN, "He is definitely not interviewing anyone, and this weekend is not about that [vice-presidential] process."
Obama and McCain face similar challenges in seeking a running mate, insiders say.
One of their top considerations must be age -- in Obama's case because of his relative youth, 46, and because McCain, at 71, is relatively old, according to a veteran Democrat, who asked not to be named.
And both "need to focus strongly on national security," the source said.
McCain must select someone qualified to handle national security questions, or else it would indicate he is choosing someone who is not qualified to be president.
Obama's lack of a long record at the national level -- he has been a senator since 2005 -- leaves him with comparatively little national security experience.
That may make it less likely that Obama would choose a governor as his running mate, since they tend to have few national security qualifications, according to the source.
Sen. Barack Obama has quietly begun searching for a vice presidential candidate, a source says.
A veteran Democratic activist told CNN that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has accepted Obama's request to begin a screening and selection process for the No. 2 spot.
Johnson performed a similar role for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004.
Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is hosting top party figures at his home in Arizona this weekend, fueling speculation he is starting his own search for a running mate.
But campaign advisers downplayed the visits, saying the gathering is not a vetting of potential running mates, but only the McCains showing their gratitude to the 18 to 20 guests for their support.
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton declined to comment on the report of his candidate's running mate search.
The source, a party operative who has been involved in Democratic presidential campaigns and conventions for more than 20 years, said the process is "at a very early point" but that campaign workers "have been informally thinking about it for a while."
Obama told CNN Thursday he is not discussing his selection process and does not yet have criteria for a running mate.
"No criteria right now. I still have to win the nomination," he said.
Don't Miss
Election Center 2008
Although Obama is the Democratic front-runner, and has captured a majority of pledged delegates after Tuesday's Kentucky and Oregon primaries, he has not clinched the 2,025 delegates needed to win the nomination against Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Despite the math, Clinton has vowed to remain in the race.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, was surprised Thursday to hear Obama has started a search.
"I did not know that Sen. Obama had started his search for vice president ... but again, when it comes to vice presidents I am not giving any advice unless asked about it by the candidates," she said.
"I think, though, that Hillary Clinton and Sen. Obama, both having a good chance to win the nomination, probably started thinking about who his or her running mate might be, what transition teams they might have, whether they should be briefed by the White House ... on issues of concern to our country," Pelosi said.
Among the guests expected at McCain's ranch in Sedona, Arizona, are Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- one of McCain's former rivals for the GOP presidential nomination.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, another formal rival, was invited but cannot attend, a source close to Huckabee said.
Other guests, according to an adviser, include Kansas senator and former Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, FedEx founder Fred Smith and senior adviser Charlie Black.
But senior McCain adviser Charlie Black told CNN, "He is definitely not interviewing anyone, and this weekend is not about that [vice-presidential] process."
Obama and McCain face similar challenges in seeking a running mate, insiders say.
One of their top considerations must be age -- in Obama's case because of his relative youth, 46, and because McCain, at 71, is relatively old, according to a veteran Democrat, who asked not to be named.
And both "need to focus strongly on national security," the source said.
McCain must select someone qualified to handle national security questions, or else it would indicate he is choosing someone who is not qualified to be president.
Obama's lack of a long record at the national level -- he has been a senator since 2005 -- leaves him with comparatively little national security experience.
That may make it less likely that Obama would choose a governor as his running mate, since they tend to have few national security qualifications, according to the source.
Norma Narramore To Speak At The Obama Headquarters
Norma Narramore who is on the State Democratic Executive Committee for SD 1 will be speaking at our Obama Headquarters, Friday, May 23, 2008 at 7:00. The address is:Obama Headquarters (Eddie Towles Phone Center)304 Gilmer RoadLongview, Texas.
Everyone is invited to come to hear Norma, enjoy the fellowship. They will have tee shirts, buttons and hats.
Everyone is invited to come to hear Norma, enjoy the fellowship. They will have tee shirts, buttons and hats.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Obama Takes Oregon; Clinton Wins Kentucky
Clinton won Kentucky by more than 30 points, but Obama's share of the state's 51 delegates was enough put him over the threshold, according to CNN estimates.
Obama is expected to pick up at least 14 delegates in Kentucky, and by CNN estimates, that will give him 1,627 of the 3,253 pledged delegates at stake in all of primaries and caucuses.
Obama will also pick up a win in Oregon, CNN projects, giving him the larger share of the state's 52 delegates.
Obama's top strategist, David Axelrod, said getting the pledged delegate majority was an "important milestone," but not the end of the trail.
Neither candidate is expected to reach the 2,026 delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination.
Obama is expected to pick up at least 14 delegates in Kentucky, and by CNN estimates, that will give him 1,627 of the 3,253 pledged delegates at stake in all of primaries and caucuses.
Obama will also pick up a win in Oregon, CNN projects, giving him the larger share of the state's 52 delegates.
Obama's top strategist, David Axelrod, said getting the pledged delegate majority was an "important milestone," but not the end of the trail.
Neither candidate is expected to reach the 2,026 delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination.
Democratic Race Nears Finish Line
Hillary Clinton won by a landslide in Kentucky, but momentum is now firmly on Barack Obama's side. He took Oregon last night, but it was his symbolic victory with pledged delegates that was the big story. Obama now has a majority of pledged delegates to the Democratic Convention.
Story provided by CNN.com
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Barack Is Expected To Hit A Milestone In Today's Vote
The story below was provided by The New York Times On May 20. 2008
Senator Barack Obama is poised to reach a milestone in the presidential race on Tuesday by capturing a majority of pledged delegates, but he said he would not declare victory against Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton or suggest the Democratic primary should end until the final three contests are finished on June 3.For Mr. Obama, the situation is delicate. While eager to proceed to a general election match with Senator John McCain of Arizona, the likely Republican nominee, Mr. Obama is also trying to bring the contest to a close in a way that allows him to win over Mrs. Clinton’s supporters and unify the party.For her part, Mrs. Clinton is making a counterargument that she is winning the popular vote if Florida and Michigan are counted, and that the party’s leaders should take that into consideration before deciding which candidate to support.The results from the Kentucky and Oregon primaries on Tuesday will almost certainly allow Mr. Obama to reach a threshold that his campaign has long sought to establish as the critical measure of the will of the party: winning a majority of the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses. He also continues to gather support from the party leaders known as superdelegates that he still needs to secure the nomination, picking up five more endorsements on Monday.Mr. Obama does not want to appear as if he is pushing Mrs. Clinton out of the race, preferring instead to treat her gracefully as a worthy Democratic fighter, not as a stubborn nemesis.He issued a directive to his campaign not to overtly declare victory at a rally on Tuesday in Iowa, a sentiment he telegraphed in Montana on Monday where he appealed for support in the state’s June 3 primary.“We still have a number of contests, including Montana, before we’re able to secure the nomination,” Mr. Obama said, speaking to an audience in Billings. “Senator Clinton has run a magnificent race, and she is still working hard, as am I, for all of these last primary contests.”Yet David Plouffe, the campaign manager for Mr. Obama, was a bit blunter as he previewed the milestone in a note to supporters on Monday.“A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message — the people have spoken, and they are ready for change,” Mr. Plouffe said. “As we near victory in one contest, the next challenge is already heating up. President Bush and Senator McCain have begun coordinating their attacks on Barack Obama in an effort to extend their failed policies for a third term.”Complicating the matter for Mr. Obama has been Mrs. Clinton’s promotion of a rival definition of who is ahead.Mrs. Clinton spent Monday in Kentucky arguing that she leads in the national popular vote, and that superdelegates would be wise to take notice and not risk ignoring the will of voters.She and her campaign have portrayed Mr. Obama as presumptuously claiming the nomination, aided by Washington pundits who have been all but crowning him as the Democratic nominee even before the primaries are complete.“This is nowhere near over,” Mrs. Clinton said of the nomination fight at a campaign stop on Monday in Maysville, Ky.Referring to the outcome of Tuesday’s primaries, she added, “None of us is going to have the number of delegates we’re going to need to get to the nomination, although I understand my opponent and his supporters are going to claim that.”Mrs. Clinton’s strategy centers on claiming a lead in the popular vote, assuming the results of the unofficial primaries in Michigan and Florida are counted.It may be the final argument in her arsenal, and while it fits with her self-styled image as a populist, it is based on a debatable premise. Most Democratic leaders believe Florida and Michigan should not be counted fully because they held primaries in defiance of party rules. Both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton agreed not to campaign there, and Mr. Obama even took his name off the ballot in Michigan.“The fact is we have to include Michigan and Florida — we cannot claim that we have a nominee based on 48 states, particularly two states that are so important for us to win in the fall,” Mrs. Clinton said on Monday in Maysville.The arguments over the cold math of the nomination contest play out against a backdrop of two states that are likely to once more reveal deep divisions among Democratic voters: Mr. Obama is expected to win sizably in Oregon, a largely white, affluent state with a fairly liberal Democratic base, while Mrs. Clinton is expected to win in Kentucky, which has a strong working-class vote.Mrs. Clinton won a commanding victory last Tuesday in neighboring West Virginia, where racial considerations emerged as an unusually evident factor for some Democratic voters, according to exit polls. Both Clinton and Obama advisers say they are unsure if this will happen again in Kentucky, but they do not rule it out; Clinton advisers add that they believe race was a relatively small factor in West Virginia.But even if Mrs. Clinton does win in Kentucky, Mr. Obama is likely to end the day with a majority of the delegates awarded through the nominating contests, a threshold his campaign has long asserted would represent a definitive judgment by voters. By its calculation, the campaign believes it is 14.5 delegates away from that benchmark; hitting it could lead to an increased flow of support from uncommitted superdelegates.If all states with popular vote totals are counted — which would exclude four caucus states that have not released numbers — Mrs. Clinton would lead Mr. Obama by more than 26,000 votes out of more than 33 million cast. By other calculations, Mr. Obama is ahead in the popular vote.
Senator Barack Obama is poised to reach a milestone in the presidential race on Tuesday by capturing a majority of pledged delegates, but he said he would not declare victory against Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton or suggest the Democratic primary should end until the final three contests are finished on June 3.For Mr. Obama, the situation is delicate. While eager to proceed to a general election match with Senator John McCain of Arizona, the likely Republican nominee, Mr. Obama is also trying to bring the contest to a close in a way that allows him to win over Mrs. Clinton’s supporters and unify the party.For her part, Mrs. Clinton is making a counterargument that she is winning the popular vote if Florida and Michigan are counted, and that the party’s leaders should take that into consideration before deciding which candidate to support.The results from the Kentucky and Oregon primaries on Tuesday will almost certainly allow Mr. Obama to reach a threshold that his campaign has long sought to establish as the critical measure of the will of the party: winning a majority of the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses. He also continues to gather support from the party leaders known as superdelegates that he still needs to secure the nomination, picking up five more endorsements on Monday.Mr. Obama does not want to appear as if he is pushing Mrs. Clinton out of the race, preferring instead to treat her gracefully as a worthy Democratic fighter, not as a stubborn nemesis.He issued a directive to his campaign not to overtly declare victory at a rally on Tuesday in Iowa, a sentiment he telegraphed in Montana on Monday where he appealed for support in the state’s June 3 primary.“We still have a number of contests, including Montana, before we’re able to secure the nomination,” Mr. Obama said, speaking to an audience in Billings. “Senator Clinton has run a magnificent race, and she is still working hard, as am I, for all of these last primary contests.”Yet David Plouffe, the campaign manager for Mr. Obama, was a bit blunter as he previewed the milestone in a note to supporters on Monday.“A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message — the people have spoken, and they are ready for change,” Mr. Plouffe said. “As we near victory in one contest, the next challenge is already heating up. President Bush and Senator McCain have begun coordinating their attacks on Barack Obama in an effort to extend their failed policies for a third term.”Complicating the matter for Mr. Obama has been Mrs. Clinton’s promotion of a rival definition of who is ahead.Mrs. Clinton spent Monday in Kentucky arguing that she leads in the national popular vote, and that superdelegates would be wise to take notice and not risk ignoring the will of voters.She and her campaign have portrayed Mr. Obama as presumptuously claiming the nomination, aided by Washington pundits who have been all but crowning him as the Democratic nominee even before the primaries are complete.“This is nowhere near over,” Mrs. Clinton said of the nomination fight at a campaign stop on Monday in Maysville, Ky.Referring to the outcome of Tuesday’s primaries, she added, “None of us is going to have the number of delegates we’re going to need to get to the nomination, although I understand my opponent and his supporters are going to claim that.”Mrs. Clinton’s strategy centers on claiming a lead in the popular vote, assuming the results of the unofficial primaries in Michigan and Florida are counted.It may be the final argument in her arsenal, and while it fits with her self-styled image as a populist, it is based on a debatable premise. Most Democratic leaders believe Florida and Michigan should not be counted fully because they held primaries in defiance of party rules. Both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton agreed not to campaign there, and Mr. Obama even took his name off the ballot in Michigan.“The fact is we have to include Michigan and Florida — we cannot claim that we have a nominee based on 48 states, particularly two states that are so important for us to win in the fall,” Mrs. Clinton said on Monday in Maysville.The arguments over the cold math of the nomination contest play out against a backdrop of two states that are likely to once more reveal deep divisions among Democratic voters: Mr. Obama is expected to win sizably in Oregon, a largely white, affluent state with a fairly liberal Democratic base, while Mrs. Clinton is expected to win in Kentucky, which has a strong working-class vote.Mrs. Clinton won a commanding victory last Tuesday in neighboring West Virginia, where racial considerations emerged as an unusually evident factor for some Democratic voters, according to exit polls. Both Clinton and Obama advisers say they are unsure if this will happen again in Kentucky, but they do not rule it out; Clinton advisers add that they believe race was a relatively small factor in West Virginia.But even if Mrs. Clinton does win in Kentucky, Mr. Obama is likely to end the day with a majority of the delegates awarded through the nominating contests, a threshold his campaign has long asserted would represent a definitive judgment by voters. By its calculation, the campaign believes it is 14.5 delegates away from that benchmark; hitting it could lead to an increased flow of support from uncommitted superdelegates.If all states with popular vote totals are counted — which would exclude four caucus states that have not released numbers — Mrs. Clinton would lead Mr. Obama by more than 26,000 votes out of more than 33 million cast. By other calculations, Mr. Obama is ahead in the popular vote.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
East Texas Democrat Meeting
Democrats United (Meeting)
Democrats United is pleased to announce that Hank Gilbert will be speaking to our group on May 19th at 7pm.
DU President will be grilling up some burgers and a great time will be had by all.
Come and show your support!
Please Click On Link Below For More Information!
http://www.txdemocrats.org/page/event/detail/meeting/w48
DU President will be grilling up some burgers and a great time will be had by all.
Come and show your support!
Please Click On Link Below For More Information!
http://www.txdemocrats.org/page/event/detail/meeting/w48
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Day Has Arrived
Finally, John Edwards endorses Barack Obama. No one knew when it would come, but it is finally here. At 6:15 p.m CDT, John Edwards or past Vice President nominee will endorse one of the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee in Michigan. Many individuals in the Democratic Party knew that John Edwards would side with Obama. Now, you are going to here debates about John Edwards being the Vice President. This could be an unstoppable ticket. Below is information from CNN.COM.
Former Democratic presidential nominee John Edwards will endorse Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, according to Obama's campaign.
Former Democratic presidential nominee John Edwards will endorse Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, according to Obama's campaign.
Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John Edwards in a CNN sponsored debate in South Carolina in January.
Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race in January 30 after poor showings in the early contests, in which he racked up just 26 delegates to the party's August nominating convention in Denver.
He told NBC last week that Obama, the Democratic front-runner, is the party's likely nominee. Both Obama and the his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, had sought Edwards' blessing.
Edwards said last week that it was "fine" for Clinton to continue making her case but expressed concern that a continued campaign could damage the party's prospects in November.
Wednesday's endorsement could help Obama reach out to white blue-collar voters, a demographic that Obama has failed to capture, most notably in the recent Pennsylvania and West Virginia primaries.
Edwards had campaigned on the message that he was standing up for the little guy, the people who are not traditionally given a voice in Washington, and that he would do more to fight special interests.
After dropping out of the race, Edwards asked both Clinton and Obama to make poverty a central issue in the general election and a future Democratic administration, something both agreed to do.Friday, May 9, 2008
Obama Gains More Superdelegates
Barack Obama today has surpassed Senator Hillary Clinton with the Superdelegate count. Obama now leads in all areas of the Democratic race, and there have been speculations that Clinton may drop out of the race by next weekend. The story below was reported on CNN.COM on May 9, 2008.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama closed in Friday on Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead among superdelegates, the Democratic officials who hold the balance of power in determining the party's presidential nominee. [Photo]Sen. Barack Obama greets supporters Friday as he campaigns in Beaverton, Oregon.[Photo] The Obama campaign announced the support of seven superdelegates, including a previous Clinton backer. Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono, New Mexico Democratic Party member Laurie Weahkee and South Carolina Democratic Party Vice Chair Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, announced they are backing the Illinois senator. Other superdelegates that pledged their support to Obama on Friday include: California Democratic National Committee member Ed Espinoza; Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon told The Oregonian newspaper that he will support Obama's bid. Oregon voters are in the middle of primary voting, which takes place through the mail. Rep. Donald Payne, a New Jersey Democrat and an early Clinton supporter, told The [Newark] Star-Ledger that he was switching to Obama. Another superdelegate, John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, also said he is backing Obama. He had been uncommitted. His union, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, said it represents more than 600,000 workers. CNN has also confirmed five new superdelegates for Clinton, though they all endorsed the New York senator before the primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. A flood of endorsements from superdelegates could virtually end the Democratic race. [Photo] Find out where the superdelegates stand » Neither candidate has the 2,025 delegates needed for the nomination. Obama has 1,860 total delegates, 165 delegates short of clinching the Democratic nod, and Clinton has 1,696, according to a CNN survey. Obama holds a commanding lead in the number of pledged delegates awarded from primaries and caucuses: 1,592 to Clinton's 1,424. The latest announcements narrow Clinton's lead in superdelegates to single digits. At the year's start, she led by more than 100 superdelegates. [Photo] Watch as the momentum appears to be in Obama's favor » There are 217 pledged delegates up for grabs in the remaining contests. After Clinton's narrow win Tuesday in Indiana and and her double-digit loss in North Carolina, former Sen. George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, said he had decided to back Obama over the former first lady. McGovern is not a superdelegate. A Virginia superdelegate -- Jennifer McClellan, a member of the state House of Delegates from Richmond -- moved over to Obama, too. Nevertheless, the Clinton campaign said it had picked up the support of Rep. Christopher Carney of Pennsylvania. Clinton is not going down without a fight, making pitches Friday to superdelegates that she is the best candidate to lead a Democratic ticket in November. Her campaign tried to appeal to elected Democrats in Republican-leaning districts, arguing that Clinton can win more votes there than Obama and thus help their re-election prospects. In a PowerPoint presentation e-mailed to the nearly 800 superdelegates, the campaign detailed how she had defeated Obama in GOP-leaning congressional districts and had consistently topped him among key voting blocs such as senior citizens and Hispanics. View the PowerPoint presentation Despite those efforts, the Clinton camp already appears to be planning an exit strategy, according to Lawrence O'Donnell, a Huffington Post contributor who cited Clinton insiders. "They are saying that Hillary will be out of the race by June 15," O'Donnell said Friday on CNN's "American Morning." "What the senior campaign official has told me is that they will go through the final votes on June 3. "Remember, Hillary is going to win maybe three of the elections, and Obama is going to win maybe three elections coming out of it," he said, referring to the remaining six contests. [Photo] Watch what O'Donnell says Clinton insiders are saying behind doors » O'Donnell said the Clinton campaign then would make its case to the superdelegates for about a week after the primaries ended. "The superdelegates have no chance of moving over to Hillary Clinton in a week," he said. "So for the Clinton campaign to say we will only make the case for a week, and then by June 15, we will have a nominee, that is to say she will drop out." Meanwhile, former Democratic contender John Edwards said Friday on NBC and MSNBC that Obama is the likely nominee. Edwards is not a superdelegate. Both the Clinton and Obama campaigns have heavily wooed the former senator from North Carolina since he ended his presidential run in January, but he has not publicly endorsed either candidate. Edwards said Friday that he worried the continuing campaign could take a toll on the Democratic Party's chances in November. "I think it's fine for Hillary to keep making the case for her," he said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "But when that shifts to everything that is wrong with [Obama], then we're doing damage instead of being helpful." On Thursday, Obama paid an unusual half-hour visit to the floor of the House of Representatives, where lawmakers greeted him enthusiastically. He denied that he was campaigning, saying he was "just saying hello." "There are some undecideds" in the House, Obama said as he was leaving. "If they have questions for me, then I'm certainly happy to respond to them." There are more than 70 undeclared Democrats in the House. Obama made clear he is willing to campaign through the remaining contests if Clinton does not drop out before the last one June 3. "Sen. Clinton is a formidable candidate. She is very likely to win West Virginia and Kentucky. Those are two states where she has insurmountable leads," he said. "We're going to have spend some time there. But we're also going to Oregon, Montana, South Dakota and Puerto Rico." [Photo] In an interview Thursday with Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "The Situation Room," Obama deflected a question about a potential joint ticket with Clinton, saying it's too early to start thinking about running mates. [Photo] Watch the interview with Obama » "Sen. Clinton's ... tireless, she's smart, she's capable, and so obviously she'd be on anybody's short list to be a potential vice presidential candidate," he said. "But it would be presumptuous of me at this point ... to somehow suggest that she should be my running mate."
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
ATTENTION! All State Delegates
If you are planning on being a National Delegate the filing deadline is, May 21 the last day for the Statement of Candidacy for National Delegate. On May 28 TDP sends list to Presidential Candidates for approval.
If you are elected a delegate or alternate by the State Convention,
you may participate in the National Convention
in Denver August 25-28, 2008.
The state party will advise you on fund-raising and on lowcost
housing and transportation if you would not otherwise
be able to attend.
you may participate in the National Convention
in Denver August 25-28, 2008.
The state party will advise you on fund-raising and on lowcost
housing and transportation if you would not otherwise
be able to attend.
The Democratic Race
Well, it may not literally be a race, but it sure does seem like it. I honestly think this presidential race is history in the making. Whatever party or political preference you have, you must say that the Democratic Party is rocking now. Forget how the media tends to skew us off this, crazy and looped up path, this is the year for a Democrat to be in office. Both candidates have their own constituents, and some are old and young, some are blue collars, others care about the economy, and some care about Iraq. We are living in an age, where the American people want some form of change. The idealistic change that majority of the people want, is what candidate can carry this country to a new and higher level. We are viewed to other individuals in our neighboring countries, as hostile, the big brother, and greedy. Everyday the race gets more interesting. Today, Obama has won North Carolina, and it looks like Hillary Clinton will take Indiana by a few points, it is still a race! Will we know who is our Presidential Nominee? No one individual really knows at this point, because each candidate has the ability to be our Commander in Chief.
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