Opinion: California’s House Democrats: And then there were 6
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Among the 34 Democrats in California’s House delegation, the number undeclared in their party’s presidential race was reduced to 6 Friday when Rep. Jim Costa announced his support for Barack Obama.
The working number actually should be considered 5 since Nancy Pelosi, as House speaker, can be expected to remain on the sidelines -- publicly, at least -- until an unambiguous choice finally emerges.
Also Friday, the once large margin Hillary Clinton enjoyed over Obama within the delegation narrowed even further when Rep. Dennis Cardoza switched his allegiance from her to him. In a statement, Cardoza said, ‘While I continue to greatly respect and admire Senator Clinton and feel she has made history with her campaign, I believe that Senator Obama will inevitably be our party’s nominee for president.’
That’s the attitude the Obama campaign has been seeking to exude -- and hoping superdelegates would bow to. While the candidate and his aide no doubt are pleased by Cardoza’s decision, what would really thrill them at this moment is if some of the women in the delegation still standing by Clinton would cross over.
Here’s the latest breakdown among the Californians:
UNDECLARED (6)
Pelosi (District 8, San Francisco); Jerry McNerney (District 11, Pleasanton); Mike Honda, (District 15, San Jose); Sam Farr (District 17, Carmel); Bob Filner (District 51, Chula Vista); Susan Davis (District 53, San Diego).
CLINTON BACKERS (15)
Mike Thompson (District 1, St. Helena); Doris Matsui (District 5, Sacramento); Lynn Woolsey (District 6, Petaluma); Ellen Tausher (District 10, Alamo); Jackie Speier (District 12, Burlingame); Brad Sherman (District 27, Sherman Oaks); Hilda Solis (District 32, El Monte); Diane Watson (District 33, Los Angeles); Lucille Roybal-Allard (District 34, East Los Angeles); Maxine Waters (District 35, Los Angeles); Jane Harman (District 36, Venice); Laura Richardson (District 37, Long Beach); Grace Napolitano (District 38, Norwalk); Joe Baca (District 43, Rialto); Loretta Sanchez (District 47, Garden Grove).
OBAMA BACKERS (13)
George Miller (District 7, Martinez); Barbara Lee (District 9, Oakland); Stark (District 13, Fremont); Anna Eshoo (District 14, Menlo Park); Zoe Lofgren (District 16, San Jose); Cardoza (District 18, Atwater); Costa (District 20, Fresno); Lois Capps (District 23, Santa Barbara); Howard Berman (District 28, Valley Village); Adam Schiff (District 29, Burbank); Henry Waxman (District 30, Los Angeles); Xavier Becerra (District 31, Los Angeles); Linda Sanchez (District 39, Lakewood).
-- Don Frederick