Youngest Superdelegate Backs Obama after being Courted by Clinton Camp

[sloppyjoe25s]

Source: CNN

Superdelegate schmoozed by Chelsea backs Obama
Posted: 10:15 AM ET
(CNN) – A few weeks ago, 21-year-old Wisconsin superdelegate Jason Rae was taken out to breakfast by Chelsea Clinton in the runup to that state’s Democratic primary.

Two days after the vote, the college junior – who will be the youngest superdelegate at this year’s Democratic National Convention — is undecided no longer: he’s backing Barack Obama.

“The Democratic Party is fortunate to have two very talented individuals running for President this election,” said Rae in a statement released by the Obama campaign Thursday. “It is a difficult choice for anyone, but in the end, the choice for me has become clear. I am proudly supporting Senator Barack Obama.”

He cited Obama’s support from an overwhelming majority of young voters as the major reason for his decision.

The Democratic Party’s roughly 800 superdelegates – who can cast their votes for any candidate they choose, regardless of their state’s primary or caucus results – have been at the center of a fierce lobbying effort by the campaigns of both Barack Obama and Chelsea Clinton’s mother, Hillary Clinton.

Rae, a Marquette University history and political science major, talked political strategy and electability over a half-hour breakfast with the former First Daughter a little more than a week before his state’s February 19 primary.

He said then he had also been called by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who tried to convince him to vote for Clinton, and by Sen. John Kerry, who urged him to back Obama. He also spoke with Barack Obama's wife, Michelle Obama.


Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/21/superdelegate-schmoozed-by-chelsea-backs-obama/

[mikelgb]

1. damn he is the superdelegate

was his one vote that important? are the other supers getting this much attention?

[MissB]

2. Yes. There have been local stories of fairly ordinary people.

Recently, one of the superdelegates from our state wrote about her experience. She'd volunteered beginning in 2002 for local election work - precinct chair, that sort of thing. Now she is a superdelegate and she is getting all sorts of phone calls from people like Clinton and Obama.

[sloppyjoe25s]

3. I think he was perceived as important because of his youth

here is a picture of him.



he was on CNN several times (with Anderson Cooper) before he made his decision.

I think the point was to highlight him as someone who is sort of "average person" - more so than the members of congress
and governors who are also Super-D's. As such he made an interesting news item as to "Who is a super delegate anyway?"

He talked with AC about how he freaked when he was shopping with a friend and Madeline Albright called him up on his cell phone.

[Zhade]

22. I saw that, too -- commented that it was a good thing she'd never call me.

I'd have to remind her of her "500,000 dead Iraqis is worth it" moment on CBS.

Kid seemed real likable. Definitely already trending toward poli-speak, though. Shame.

[jasmine621]

4. If he made that statement, his endorsement is good example of "mob

madness." Just because a lot of young voters support Obama is not good enough reason to give him a SD vote.

[apnu]

5. He's a SuperD and is allowed, buy the rules, to vote any way he likes.

I'm not sure if his youth is the sole reason he got a SuperD vote. Maybe he's been involved in the local party for a long time? Maybe his family has connections... we don't know.

What's obvious here is the whole delegate system used by the Democratic Party is in need of overhaul.

It shouldn't be this hard to nominate some one.

Sad.

[Bill McBlueState]

15. He's an elected member of the DNC

which is why he gets a vote.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Rae

[Lerkfish]

7. oh, cool,. now we've gone from "cult" to "mob madness"

hows that insulting everyone who disagrees with you working out for your candidate?

[Gman]

6. How the hell did this child get to be a superdelegate?

WTF is going on?

[TahitiNut]

8. Maybe the alternative was enlistment in the Army?

:dunce:

[Gman]

12. What? Did he plea bargain something??

[SteppingRazor]

9. He's an elected member of the DNC.

He got to be a superdelegate because Democratic voters in his state voted for him.

[Chovexani]

10. That "child"

Is old enough to drink, vote, and die for your right to say ageist shit on a message board.

[RL3AO]

11. Elected member of Wisconsin DNC at 17.

[Gman]

13. Damn

[RL3AO]

14. It wouldn't shock me to see him make a serious run at the House when he turns 25.

[elias7]

21. don't think so,

saw him interviewed and while bright, reasonably articulate and informed, he was on the geeky side. Unless he undergoes a major transformation, I don't see him as the electable sort...

[Ian David]

24. First, let's see if he wins the presidency of his school Dungeons & Dragons club. n/t

[Forrest Greene]

16. Lemmings

"He cited Obama’s support from an overwhelming majority of young voters as the major reason for his decision."

[Zynx]

17. And this guy has more of a say than I do? I'm the same age, but could come up with a far

better reason than that.

[RL3AO]

18. Then run for a seat on the DNC.

[Zynx]

19. I despise local level politicking. Besides, I think superdelegates are ridiculous beyond belief.

My rationale if I were a superdelegate from Wisconsin would be that my state voted overwhelmingly for Senator Obama and thus, as a representative of my state, he is entitled to my support.

[kenfrequed]

20. I tend to agree

And like many states, your neighbors in Minnesota have superdelegates that attend the state convention here. They historically back a lot of dead air/"conventional wisdom" candidates that lose a lot. Personally I despise them. Pragmatically I feel I have to do something to get in amongst them to try to take the Democratic party back to its progressive roots.

[Zhade]

23. Well, the whole thing's a circus anyway, why not some trained animals?

:evilgrin:

[JPZenger]

25. Glad he waited until his state voted

He showed maturity by waiting until his state voted.

I read about a PA. superdelegate who intended to remain uncommitted until after her state voted, but then Bill Clinton called her and charmed her. This 21 year was much more mature than that old unelected woman.