Measuring the value of an endorsement is an uncertain science at best. There are some tangible benefits, of course. For example, the endorsement of a union brings you enormous organization and boots on the ground and that of a high profile elected official means a superdelegate at the convention, favorable press coverage and, potentially, access to a huge e-mail list.
There are intangible benefits as well. Hillary Clinton rolled out high level support early to add to the sense that she was inevitable; Obama is doing so late to capitalize on Iowa momentum and make sure it's not blunted by his slim loss in NH. And he's getting some big ones. Yesterday alone, Obama received the endorsements of Senators John Kerry and Tim Johnson as well as Ned Lamont and California Congressman George Miller. Today Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has endorsed him.
Hillary Clinton on the other hand, having blown her sitting senator and governor endorsement wad already, is rolling out more targeted low level local endorsements to help shore up support in the upcoming Nevada caucus. Just today, in an attempt to undermine the importance of the Culinary Worker Union endorsement of Obama, the Clinton campaign is touting the support of Las Vegas culinary workers who are ignoring the union. Additionally, on the heels of the endorsement of Nevada congresswoman Shelley Berkley, which was announced earlier this week, yesterday saw Clinton receive the support of Nevada State Senator Bob Coffin (who represents Las Vegas) as well as notable hispanic leaders (and former Richardson supporters) U.S. Ambassador Edward Romero and former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros. Today, we hear rumblings that New Mexico Lietenant Governor Diane Denish is "leaning" toward endorsing Hillary.
But what if you get the best of both worlds: high-level elected leader with strong local roots and influence in a crucial primary state? That's just what might be about to play out in South Carolina. From The New York Times.
Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, said he was rethinking his neutral stance in his state's presidential primary out of disappointment at comments by Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton that he saw as diminishing the historic role of civil rights activists.Mr. Clyburn, a veteran of the civil rights movement and a power in state Democratic politics, put himself on the sidelines more than a year ago to help secure an early primary for South Carolina, saying he wanted to encourage all candidates to take part. But he said recent remarks by the Clintons that he saw as distorting civil rights history could change his mind.
I don't know South Carolina well enough to gauge whether Clyburn's switching from neutral to Obama would spell disaster for Clinton there but it certainly seems to me that Clyburn represents as close to the endorsement motherlode as one could get this primary season. I've got to think the mere suggestion that he might come out for Obama probably puts him slightly ahead of Clinton in the endorsement wars as of this moment, but we'll have to see how that shifts as the parrying no doubt continues over the coming weeks.
|
|
|
Permalink :: 32 Comments :: Post a Comment
|
In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.
If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.