Top Clinton Texas Outreach Activist turns up at Obama rally — With Endorsers like these...

[NYCGirl]

Now, there really isn't any public polling to support the notion that the race in Texas and Ohio is somehow in Obama's pocket.

But this scene from the Rio Grande Guardian is pretty striking:

EDINBURG, February 22 - One of Hillary Clinton’s top supporters in the Rio Grande Valley appeared at a Barack Obama rally Friday and said the presidential primary was the Illinois senator’s race to lose.

State Rep. Aaron Peña, who, in print and on TV has been a leading outreach activist in the Valley for Clinton, shocked many Friday morning when he sat down with his family in the stands behind the stage at an Obama rally at the University of Texas-Pan American.


“I think last night’s debate in Austin was a turning point in this campaign. I think it will become increasingly evident very soon who is going to win this primary. While Barack Obama may not win the popular vote in Texas, the passion of his organization has an advantage in winning the important caucus delegates.”

Asked if he had now flipped over to Obama, Peña said: “I will maintain my commitment but it appears to me that the decision will be made by the public on March 4. I made a commitment to Hillary Clinton and I must maintain it. I gave my word. However, as an observer, it appears to be increasingly evident who is going to win.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/With_endorsers_like_these.html

[asjr]

1. The rats are scrambling to get off

that ship.

[rodeodance]

2. she did not need this.

[Debi]

3. What a jerk - for two reasons

Either he's too weaselly to actually dump Clinton for Obama or too chicken shit to dump Clinton for Obama (or a third - he's commitment impaired).

[sloppyjoe25s]

16. or he's just a normal local party official

who at least is verbally saying he sees the light.

alot of these local guys are shit scared of "clinton retribution" if they do anything to cross the clintons.

So their support was sewn-up early with arm-twisting. And now they are a little stuck or they can expect some hurt.

[thevoiceofreason]

18. He's a good state rep with a loyal following

Be careful who you trash.

[Debi]

24. forget it.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Ouch

I suspect Mr. Pena knows how to read a poll...

[BringBigDogBack]

5. wow

that's pretty damning.

[Bullet1987]

6. Man...that's fucked up...

[thereismore]

7. Mr. Pena did something disgusting. Changing one's opinion is one thing, but to sit

in the stands behind Obama's stage is in bad taste. Why doesn't he wait in line like the rest of us.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

17. There's nothing uncommon about it at all.

Local political dignitaries typically get VIP invitations to these events, regardless of who they support. I'm not defending the practice, that's just how those things go.

[Arkana]

8. Is he too afraid to declare his support?

Wuss.

[NJSecularist]

9. Join the bandwagon!

We have room!

[sloppyjoe25s]

all aboard!!

[sloppyjoe25s]

14. all aboard!!

[Tatiana]

10. Many of the superdelegates and party officials feel this same way.

A lot of early Hillary supporters are now feeling a bit depressed over their early support of Clinton. At that time, she seemed inevitable. It took guts for someone like Conyers to declare his support for Obama when it looked like he would get creamed. However, I hear a note of regret in Charlie Rangel's voice when he speaks about Clinton now.

The unions like the Teamsters look a bit smart now for holding out to see who would take the lead.

[TexasObserver]

19. You are so correct, and the trend of erosion of those to Obama will continue daily.

[Cha]

23. They shoulda studied hilary

more like we did bush when we knew he would go into Iraq because they'd been planning it since the last century.

On the bright side.. charlie rangel can admire his wife, Alma's, good taste.

Thanks for reminding us about John Conyers, Tatiana!

[loveangelc]

11. wow. that's all there is to say about that.

but her internal polling i read has her up 5 or more points in texas.

[my3boyz]

15. Not according the Andrea Mitchell..she said Clinton camp told her trends were moving against them. n

[loveangelc]

22. Really? When did she say that? I read someone post that Hillary was telling superdelegates

that her internal polling had her up no less than 5 in each state, but maybe that was old...

[sloppyjoe25s]

12. excellent news!

The online support among latinos & others is definitely growing:

http://www.myonda.com/

http://www.obamatags.com/

just for example. Good to see these additional confirmations of his momentum!

[Adelante]

13. That's superdelegates for you

Never count on them.

[AtomicKitten]

20. Sounds like fence-straddling to me.

It is fascinating to watch the political exodus, though.

K&R

[Araxen]

21. heaven forbid he tells the truth

Hillary knows the writing is on the wall. She isn't stupid. Her only hope is for a big boo boo by Obama and she almost got it with Michelle, so never say never.