Just asking: does the RNC really want to get into a debate over the number of partisans in each party who don't fully support their party's nominee?
See the e-mail to which I'm referring after the jump.
From the RNC:
Today, Oklahoma’s lone Democrat Congressman joined a growing number of Democrats who are distancing themselves from Barack Obama…“Boren, the lone Democrat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegate, said that while Obama has talked about working with Republicans, ‘unfortunately, his record does not reflect working in a bipartisan fashion.’” (Associated Press, 06/10/08)
“This is not a good sign for Obama… Boren’s statement will surely prompt reporters to ask most every Blue Dog Democrat who had been holding out or supporting Clinton whether they'll now get behind Obama. And Boren certainly won't be the last to put on his dancing shoes.” (Politico, 06/10/08)
“Democratic officials do not expect Boren to be the last to refrain from making a show of not backing his party's presumptive presidential nominee… Other House Democrats from swing districts – Democrats who eked out victories in traditionally GOP districts, whom House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls her ‘majority makers’ – may refrain from even attending their party's convention in Denver in August.” (ABC News, 06/10/08)
Unfortunately for Obama, other members of his own Party in key states are reticent to get behind his campaign as well…
FL… “Mahoney says he’ll remain an uncommitted superdelegate through the party convention this summer. And Mahoney plans to keep a low profile in the presidential race this fall as he seeks reelection to one of the nation’s most competitive congressional seats… Asked how he felt about running for reelection in his district with Obama atop the ticket, Mahoney said, ‘I’m a Democrat, but am I going to have a pep rally or something like that? No, I’m not going to do that.’” (Palm Beach Post, 06/09/08)
OH… “Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland says, if asked, he would "absolutely not" join the presidential ticket of Sen. Barack Obama… ‘If drafted, I will not run. Nominated, I will not accept. And if elected, I will not serve. So, I don't know how more crystal clear I can be.’” (Chicago Tribune, 06/10/08)
TN… “In Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer, Gov. Phil Bredesen mentioned an unnamed Tennessee superdelegate from a swing district who said both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were ‘poison’ politically to him. A scan of Tennessee superdelegates likely leads to only one elected one who is in a swing district - Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-Pall Mall). Earlier this year, Davis was a John Edwards supporter. After Edwards dropped out, Davis told reporters the other candidates, on both sides of the aisle, were ‘leftovers.’” (Nashville City Paper, 04/15/08)
GA… “Rep. Jim Marshall won't say whether he thinks Barack Obama would make a better president than John McCain.” (Washington Examiner, 06/06/08)
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Yes. Attacking your opponent on your own weaknesses is the hottest trick in the book these days.
Posted by neil | June 10, 2008 6:15 PM