Howard Dean to superdelegates: Lasting Democratic discord will elect John McCain

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, warned again Sunday that Democratic superdelegates need to choose between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton before July 1, saying that party disunity could sink their chances in a year when Democratic presidential candidates have started with advantages.

"The only thing that’s going to make John McCain president is disunity among Democrats," Dean said on CBS’ "Face the Nation," referring to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

Dean insisted that the Democrats have other factors working for them. ...

and contended that his party has a chance this year even in traditional Republican strongholds, including Montana and North Dakota. But he warned: "If it goes on -- if you go into the convention divided -- you’re probably going to come out of the convention divided."

In a second Sunday appearance, on ABC's "This Week," he said:

"My view is this: Superdelegates get elected by the same people that elect the pledged delegates. So what I suggested is we have about 800 unpledged delegates, so-called superdelegates, and about 460 of them have already said who they are going to be for. So if the other 340 would say who they're going to be for, then we'd be all set. "

Dean signaled that while he’s been issuing calls for the superdelegates to make up their minds, there is a limit to how much pressure he will bring because it is their right to choose a candidate. And there are still 10 contests to go, starting with Pennsylvania on April 22 and ending with Montana and South Dakota on June 3. "The voters ought to have their say," Dean told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

“We're having record turnouts everywhere,” he told Bob Schieffer of CBS. “I think this is actually going to make it easier for us to win as long as we keep the party together.” Still, he said, “The ongoing dispute, while it's healthy in the short run, needs to have an end.”

And the way things are going, that "end" will come only when the superdelegates choose up sides.

-- Paul Richter

Comments

[Sylvia Mangan]

Please do not stop the campaign before the primaries are over or try to influence the outcome of the primaries. Your suggestion that you want this to end prematurely goes against all civil rights, doesn't it? Your contined insinuation that Obama is the winner, prior to the final outcome of the primaries, is inappropriate. You and the media seem to be planting the seeds of discontent and suggesting that we not have our vote. In addition, you seem to be very biased against Hillary Clinton, and giving her the benefit of being able to run a campaign that appears to be honest and above board. What appears to be happening with your suggestion as well as the media is really unfair and unjust to a candidate. This will not hurt the Democratic party to let this run it's natural course to try to find the best candidate. There is approximately one half of this country who do not believe is should be Obama at this point, so the campaign needs to continue. Actually it appears that it is good for the Democratic party as it shows that we have 2 very acceptable candidates, and "May the best person win".

[Diann Helnore]

Howard Dean need to stop trying to disadvantage Senator Clinton and to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates, He created this problem she did not. Anything else is grosly unfait. Stop tippy toeing around BO and seat teh delegates. Count the votes. Otherwise I will vote for John McCain.

[Katie Fisher]

They can count the Florida and Michigan delegates all they want, but even then Sen. Clinton will still be lagging in the delegate count. Counting Florida and Michigan won't change the outcome of this race. You can't fight the math.

On the other hand, even a 6 year could tell counting the results of phantom elections where some candidates' names weren't even on the ballot definitely would be grossly unfair.

Everyone knew the rules of the game before they started - duping the system after the rules are set is hardly a democratic way to win an election.
While the actual delegates should be seated - the seating should be allocated fairly.

[jesse2]

No one is to Stop this race. Exit from a race is a one person decision by a candidate alone. Even a spouse can not advise. My predication is that on May 6, 2008 we will see major changes. Obama will become the majority winner of pledged delegates and lots of super delegates will come out of the wood to declare their support. We have 30 days to go. May 6,2008 could be finale for my candidate Hillary.
She has a lot races coming for her - - NY Governor and later US presidency in 2016. She will only be 68.

[Mike]

I would just like to comment that no person has a right to vote in a party primary. As an independent from Illinois, I was unable to vote in my state's primary because I am not registered with either party. I want to know why HIllary Clinton is not fighting for my right to cast my vote for Obama, in a state that refuses to acknowledge the votes of non-partisan voters?

[Steve]

I would support an independent strong woman for the post of our president (example Margaret Thatcher). I do not like woman who are in high position because they married the right guy. That goes against everything women's liberation movement stands for.

We have had enough family dynasties already. Look at the Bush dynasty, what a disaster for America. We do not need another dynasty.

[outraged]

The reason I continue to be an independent voter for most of my years voting, is because there will always be ways certain candidates will declared undeserved victory. I am speaking plainly about Mr. Bush, and Mr. Obama.
As long as the popular vote in every state IS counted, they are without a leg to stand on.
Shame on both DNC and RNC for trying to hoodwink the American people. The world is watching, and I for one am paying very close attention.
Go Hillary.

[rob]

Howard Dean should be ashamed of himself and the way he has handled the FL and MI situation. Dean should leave the choice of the Democratic nominee to the voters, and he should certainly seat the FL and MI delegates - and not 50/50 as some propose.

To ask or suggest that the super delegates voice their decision prior to the end of the remaining primaries is wrong and goes completely against the grain. The only thing that Howard Dean for sure will succeed in is fracturing the Democratic Party further. I, for one, will leave the Democratic Party rather than be forced fed Dean's favored candidate.

Shame on you Howard Dean!

[treetracker]

I don't see where in this article Dean is taking sides, but I will say this - whoever comes out on top, the other side needs to hold their nose and vote Democractic or we will lose two seats on the Supreme Court to conservatives and that IS MORE IMPORTANT than who is in the driver's seat come November.

[Remove Dean]

Howard Dean does not have the skill or insight to deal with this issue. HE should step down.

Is he really this slow?

Is he going to ask for a yelling contest to decide the winner?

[Teri B.]

No. 1, more people are engaged and paying attention to the issues in this election that ever before - that's good for the American people. No. 2, by the time we get a nominee, and start campaigning against McCain, our candidate's dirty laundry will be old news, while McCain's will sound like revelations. So, this isn't where the problem comes in. It's not about what our candidates are saying about each other.

The division caused in this election isn't the candidates' fault - they're doing what candidates do. It's isn't the voters' fault - they're allowed to be divided. Democracy is a good thing, but too little in this primary has been about democracy.

The DNC has caused it, with not only this FL and MI nightmare, but what Dean is doing right now, in trying stifle the voices of the remaining voters. The media is doing it, by taking sides, slanting coverage, and focusing almost exclusively on rubbish. And he powerful democratic political action groups and other organizations, like moveon.org, dailykos, democraticundergroud, etc. are doing it, but only furthering the agenda of half the party.

And these are the very people who keep saying this primary is divisive and most be ended. NO, THEY DON'T DECIDE ELECTIONS, WE DO! And if we give our power to them, we'll never get it back!

I don't know what the democratic party stands for right now, but it's not anything I want any part of. Dean had better knock this crap off.

Poll: Plurality Thinks Super-Delegates Should Back Winner Of Popular Vote

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/poll_plurality_thinks_superdel.php

[dougand jane cox]

howard I was one of the people that would have voted for you for president if the press and opposition had not used negatives to swifft boat you. This what clinton is doing and the polls showing that obama was the winner in a presidentail race agaist McCain has beengoing downhill in the last two or three weeks since hillary has been trying to swift boat her DEMOCRATIC opponet and if this keeps up for even a few more weeks , the fighter,(DIVIDER) quite possibly will have lost this election for the democrats. She seems to care not only what she want. If this happens , the democrats will have done this to themseles. I for one as well as my wife will not support this kind of lack of integrity campaigning. thank you Doug Cox

[.shirley........]

Obama endorsements like that from John Edwards will not influence Hillary supporters because we all know that John Edwards' views and background are very different than Obama's. We don't trust Obama and we will never vote for him even if Hillary supports him.

The Democrats are short changing John McCain because although he is running on the Republican ticket he did what he had to under Bush until he could run again for President. If he becomes President he will bring the Parties together. He will not be influenced by right wing doctrine because that is not how he will want to be remembered. He served our country well in war and he would serve our country well if he is elected because he is an honorable man which is more than I can say about Obama.

Those Democratic super delgates who switch over to Obama are cutting their own throats because we will get even with them when the opportunity presents itself.

Everyone knows that Obama would not be where he is today if we knew in the beginning what we now know about him.

[cosmeta]

I was able to download and read a pdf of the DNC Rules and Bylaws. There is an "automatic" penalty to reduce by 50% so it behooves me why Dean chose to enfore a 100% reduction of delegates. Then in another place it basically negates that saying, the DNC does not have to abide by that and can add on additional penalties if it wants. But what stikes me as odd is a section saying that if a state legislature is control by another party, if the Democratic leaders can prove or made dilegent effort to stop or rectify a change of date then *no* penalty shall be enforce. This should have been the case with Florida, yet Howard Dean and the other leaders of the DNC chose not to abide by their own rules; but chose to enforce ones they made up along the way... and all because of that clause that says they can impose additional penalties. It reminds me of most documents we find. Sign here on the dotted line... just know that we have the right to change our policy at any time and without written notice.

This whole Florida and Michigan issue was a farce. They tied Clinton's hands behind her back from get go to give BHO the momentum. Then near the end of the primaries, they had the DNC May 31st meeting, and once again, they chose to favor BHO by awarding him 64 delegate votes he neither earned nor won because he had *removed* his name from the MI ballot. So once again, the DNC gave Mr O the edge even though Senator Clinton had both the Popular Vote and the momentum. She also has the Electorial Map to win in the fall... But these clowns playing with our life and livelihood wanted to go with the man with the money instead of choosing the person who was more electible. And by that I do mean, Hillary having won all the larger states as well as the swing states needed in the fall.

BHO's collition may have helped him in the primaries... but they will not help him in the fall and for the following reason. Hillary has a larger percentage of women and women make up 50% of the population. Bottom line is, in trying not to divide the party by getting to a speedy conclusion, Mr Dean has divided the party by insulting and enraging Hillary Supporters... supporters Mr O will and and cannot get back. He may have been thinking in terms of the Party and delegates, those like Governors, Mayors, House Members and Senators, as pledged delegates and superDelegates etc. but he certainly did not have out interest at heart. And for this reason, if the party stays with their chosen one, they will lose us in the fall. Reason: Women have VERY long memories and we will not soon forget Mr O's part in the DNC's decision. We will not forget that he blocked the revote in Florida and Michigan by playing Chicago style politics. So now he can whistle dixie as he tries to win us back. And it's not going to happen. Not now. Not tomorrow and not in the fall.

DENVER HERE WE COME!

In closing: I for one am please that Senator Clinton has only *suspended* her campaign because I am HOPING that with our help, she can still CHANGE the minds of the SuperDelegates before it's too late. Because, until the last gavel fall in the Denver Convention, Mr O, is not the Party's nominee.