by Don Frederick
ABC's George Stephanopoulos summed up the prevailing pundit opinion on Good Morning America today when he predicted that undeclared Democratic superdelegates would start flocking to Barack Obama in bunches. Yet the first party honcho to tip his hand following Tuesday primaries that boosted Obama signed up with ... Hillary Clinton.
A cynic might note that in announcing his support for Clinton, Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina was aping his ill-fated pro football career -- joining the roster of a losing team.
But after washing out as a QB from the mid-to-late '90s with the Washington Redskins, the New Orleans Saints and the Oakland Raiders, Shuler succeeded as a politician by making clear to the constituents of the western tip of the Tar Heel state that although he was a Democrat, he shared their moderate-to-conservative opinions on most issues. That enabled him, in the 2006, to knock off an eight-term Republican incumbent.
In endorsing Clinton, Shuler was hewing to the views of those who sent him to Washington. Although Clinton lost North Carolina to Obama by 14 percentage point, the results in Shuler's district were almost exatly the reverse: She won it by 13 points.
He had said he would back the candidate who carried his home tuirf, and so he had, a spokesman for Shuler announced.
Don Frederick writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times political blog.
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Comments
Anyone who has seen those happy feet in the pocket knows he'll change his mind at least once before August.
Posted by: Jeff | May 7, 2008 2:26 PM
Like the Mayor of Dayton, he said he'd vote his constituents and did. That's fine. Add it to her count. But don't act like it's a stampede--he's keeping a results-based promise, carefully avoiding needing to come out for her and McCain's gas tax ideas.
Posted by: Deborah | May 7, 2008 2:36 PM
whoop de do.
Posted by: RuthieM | May 7, 2008 2:45 PM
Give me a break. Obama 2008.
Posted by: Anton Chigurh | May 7, 2008 2:51 PM
All superdelegates should be forced to vote the way that their constituents do. Otherwise this election will come down to which candidate promises more to each of the superdelegates. One thing we have learned here in Chicago is that no endorsement is free when it comes from politicians.
Posted by: Vinny | May 7, 2008 2:59 PM
Bravo Shuler, a man of his word! A lesser man would have jumped on that Cult Obama bandwagon!
Posted by: em | May 7, 2008 3:02 PM
What is in the best interest of the PARTY in the fall is a duo ticket--Barack/Hillary or Hillary/Barack--and it sure looks like a statistical dead heat to me.
What is in the best interest of the PARTY is what the superdelegates should do.
Right now--looks like this guy is working to keep the pressure up so that both parties go to the NEGOTIATION TABLE---or we duke it out in Denver.
It would be historic for a convention to be something other than a mere photo op for commercials to come.
Maybe in the meantime the news media could actually COVER both remaining candidates' platforms?
(Hillary's energy policy--the long term plan the mainstream media did not cover--is actually better than Barack's. The gas tax stuff seemed silly-but it got us TALKING about what to do for REAL relief this summer--I like HIllary's plan--RELEASE OIL FROM THE STRAT RESERVE--AND STOP BUYING IT RIGHT NOW.)
Posted by: Golden Oldie | May 7, 2008 3:06 PM
A man of his word supporting a lying fraud.
Shuler is everything Clinton isn't.
Posted by: remus | May 7, 2008 3:21 PM
I can't wait to see what kind of a scam Clinton comes up with for West Virginia.
Hillary in a Jed Clampett-like hillbilly hat and clothes, with a musket.
Chelsea can dress and have her hair like Ellie Mae, and Bill can be Jethro, with the pants with a rope belt thing.
Hillary has become such a ridiculous caricature of herself but it sure does give me something to laugh about.
Posted by: John E | May 7, 2008 3:29 PM
I like HIllary's plan--RELEASE OIL FROM THE STRAT RESERVE--AND STOP BUYING IT RIGHT NOW.)
Posted by: Golden Oldie | May 7, 2008 3:06 PM
An even worse plan than the tax holiday.
The strategic reserve exists for a reason. It's there in case of a true oil shortage or shock. For example, if OPEC embargoes oil to the US after a President obliterated Iran.
To run down the stockpile is a short term measure that would do nothing to address the structural issues keeping oil prices high, and would leave us very miuch more vulnerable to other nations which coiuld attempt to restrict our oil supply.
Posted by: JT | May 7, 2008 3:34 PM
All superdelegates should be forced to vote the way that their constituents do. Otherwise this election will come down to which candidate promises more to each of the superdelegates. One thing we have learned here in Chicago is that no endorsement is free when it comes from politicians.
Posted by: Vinny | May 7, 2008 2:59 PM
Interesting how the hardcore Republicans (see above) are still on here desperately promoting Clinton.
Me thinks the Repubs are scared to death of facing Obama this fall...and they should be.
Posted by: John E | May 7, 2008 3:37 PM
Someone else said it, but it bears repeating; this isn't a real superdelegate pickup, this is a math transaction. Since the Clinton campaign's main argument since February is that math doesn't matter, then by their logic, this doesn't matter.
Posted by: Don | May 7, 2008 3:39 PM
Hillary is our champion! Go Hillary! We are behind you!
Posted by: brigitte | May 7, 2008 3:47 PM
Hillary is our champion! Go Hillary! We are behind you!
Posted by: brigitte | May 7, 2008 3:47 PM
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http://hillaryis404.org/
Posted by: oops! | May 7, 2008 3:56 PM
You know it's getting harder to tell the Hillary supporters from the wingers. If only the republicans could have found 2 candidates that were worthy or weren't in jail.
Posted by: bill r. | May 7, 2008 4:18 PM
John E | May 7, 2008 3:29 PM Good post! I am cracking up!!!
Kin folks said Bill move away from there!!!!!
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | May 7, 2008 4:48 PM
Good for Shuler. He's a man of his word. The same cannot be said of Richardson and Andrew.
Btw, I personally think it's more admirable to have played the game and "lost" than to have never played at all. What merit is there in being a "cynical couch potato?"
Posted by: Cathy in Ks. | May 7, 2008 6:07 PM
As an Obama supporter who voted for him in yesterday's primary, I do applaud Rep. Shuler for keeping his word and representing his constituents. Senator Clinton might learn something from this.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 7, 2008 6:14 PM
"Good for Shuler. He's a man of his word. The same cannot be said of Richardson and Andrew. "
When did Bill Richardson ever give his word that he would support Hillary Clinton for President? The Clinton's assumed he would. Why I don't know, considering he ran against her for the nomination.
Posted by: Luke | May 7, 2008 6:39 PM
As an Obama supporter who voted for him in yesterday's primary
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 7, 2008 6:14 PM
Living in Oriental...wasn't it a great day to vote?
Posted by: bill r. | May 7, 2008 7:07 PM
Living in Oriental...wasn't it a great day to vote?
Posted by: bill r. | May 7, 2008 7:07 PM
Yes, bill r., a great day. Thanks.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 7, 2008 8:10 PM