Catch a Superdelegate Wave
Obama picked up 7 superdelegates Friday – his biggest one-day haul since Feb. 5.
May 09, 2008— -- It may not have been the immediate flood that pundits, politicos and partisans were expecting after the results were in from Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina but now it looks like the pace of superdelegates swinging to Barack Obama is quickening and he's building a lead over Hillary Clinton.
Obama picked up seven superdelegates today – his biggest one-day haul since the battle for superdelegates intensified in the nomination race.
Since Tuesday's results, Obama has picked up 13 new superdelegates. Clinton has netted zero – she was endorsed by Reps Heath Shuler, D-NC, and Chris Carney, D-PA, but she lost two superdelegates who switched to Obama. Obama now has a lead of 170 total delegates in the ABC News delegate estimate.
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports that Obama addressed his surge in superdelegates today on the campaign trail:
"I'm gratified that we've got some superdelegates that are coming our way. And I think we've got a strong case to make that I will be a nominee that can pull the party together and take on John McCain in the fall. Our focus has always been on the pledged delegates and just getting the American people to vote for us and we think that ultimately that should be the strongest measure of whose the nominee, but if superdelegates also feel that we're going to be a strong candidate then I'm very pleased with that."
West Virginia is the next state to vote, with a primary on Tuesday May 13. There are still six uncommitted superdelegates from the Mountain State – both Clinton and Obama each have two superdelegates already.
Add-on superdelegate watch:
The Massachusetts Democratic State Committee meets on Saturday and will elect two add-on superdelegates. This could be interesting – who does the party elect? Clinton won the state 57-41 percent on Feb. 5 but Obama has the support of the Democratic elected leaders – Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry and Gov. Deval Patrick.
One add-on superdelegate will be appointed at the Utah Democratic Convention on Friday evening. Obama won the state 57-40 on Feb. 5.
Pivoting to the General?
Obama may have said today that he and Clinton are "still in the middle of the race," it did not seem like that in his remarks at a campaign event in Beaverton, OR.
ABC News' Miller reports that while Obama launched a "point by point breakdown" of his differences with John McCain on the economy, health care and gas prices, one name was notably not part of his prepared remarks – Hillary Clinton.
Miller notes that this is another signal that Obama is "quickly shifting gears toward his general election strategy."
"Senator McCain is running for President to double down on George Bush's failed policies. I am running to change them, and that will be the fundamental difference in this election when I am the Democratic nominee for President," Obama said at a campaign event in Beaverton, Oregon.
Cheney on the trail
Vice President Cheney steps into campaign season on Monday with remarks at a rally for Republican congressional candidate Greg Davis in Southaven, MS. Davis is running in Tuesday's special election against Democrat Travis Childers.
In an interview with Mississippi radio host Paul Gallow, Cheney stressed the importance of Republicans holding this seat.
"It's been in conservative hands for a long time, and we'd hate to see the liberals gain control," Cheney said.
POTUS of the Bride
The Commander-in-Chief is the Father on Bride on Saturday when first daughter Jenna Bush marries Henry Hager in Crawford, Texas. ABC News' Jennifer Duck reports that more than 200 friends and family are expected to attend festivities at the 1,600-acre Bush family ranch.
Don't hold your breath for any photos of Jenna's wedding - the White House is not promising anything, but may release some photos on Sunday.
Duck reports that mouse pads and mugs with Jenna and Henry are selling like hotcakes in sleepy Crawford and that President Bush is preparing for the big event by taking tips from comedian Steve Martin who plays the goofy dad in the "Father of the Bride" movies.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
On the campaign front. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- 2:30 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Bend, OR
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 2:00 pm ET: Attends Mother's Day Celebration with Chelsea Clinton, New York, NY
BILL CLINTON
-- 11:00 pm ET: Addresses Yellowstone County Democratic Central Committee 22nd Annual Harry S. Truman Dinner, Billings, MT
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- No public events scheduled
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- No public events scheduled, Crawford, TX
Sunday, May 11, 2008
On the campaign front. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events scheduled, Chicago IL
HILLARY CLINTON
-- Attends events in West Virginia
JOHN EDWARDS
-- Appears on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- No public events scheduled
At the White House. . .PRESIDENT BUSH
-- No public events scheduled
Monday, May 12, 2008
On the campaign front. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events scheduled
HILLARY CLINTON
-- No public events scheduled
As for the Republicans. . .JOHN MCCAIN
-- Attends fundraiser with supporters, Portland, OR
At the White House and Beyond. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 3:30 pm ET: Speaks at the Preserve America Presidential Awards, Washington, DC
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY
-- 7:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks at a rally for Congressional Candidate Greg Davis, Southaven, MS
SECRETARY OF STATE RICE
-- 12:15 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the launch of the "One Woman Initiative" Fund for women's empowerment, Washington, DC
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
-- Releases federal budget for April, Washington, DC
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Karen Travers: Obama Now Takes the Lead in Superdelegates Too LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Takes Lead in Superdelegate Tally LINK
ABC News' Gary Langer: Follow the Lines LINK
ABC News' Jan Simmonds and Jennifer Parker: McCain Says He Did Vote for George W. Bush LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: "West Wing" Actors Back Arianna V. McCain LINK
ABC News' Rick Klein: Kennedy on Obama-Clinton Ticket: Dream On LINK
ABC News' Ron Claiborne: McCain: Not Offended by Alleged Age-Baiting LINK
ABC News' David Chalian: Clinton Strategists to Media: We're Not Walking Off the Court LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis: Emanuel Dubs Obama 'Presumptive Nominee' LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Panetta: Time for Clinton to Concede LINK
ABC News' Sunlen Miller: What's Taboo for Senator Obama? LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: If You Try to Send the Troops to College, They Just Might Go LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Edwards May Endorse, Says Obama "Is Clearly the Likely Nominee" LINK
ABC News' Sarah Amos: Bill Clinton: West Virginia Vote Can Make 'Earth Move' LINK
ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama Focuses on McCain, Ignores Clinton LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 LINK
ABC News' Jan Simmonds: McCain Calls for Pressure on Syria to Cease Lebanon Violence LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM
McCain Brushes Off Alleged Age-Baiting
Sen. McCain dismisses Sen. Obama's comments that McCain has "lost his bearings." LINK
Clinton Disenchantment?
What happened to the party's love affair with the Clintons? LINK
'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best Moments
ABC News' Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK
Bush Wedding Is Big Business
Souvenirs to commemorate president's daughter's nuptials go on sale. LINK
Bill Riled Up Over Healthcare
Clinton angry over claim that the Clinton's did nothing to fix healthcare. LINK
Kimmel's Superdelegate Count
"The Worst Political Team on TV" crunches numbers for Clinton and Obama. LINK
Kimmel: The Ugly Face of Politics
Is John McCain's wife being truthful when she says to expect a clean race? LINK
A Not So White House Wedding
Take a look at the details of Jenna Bush's wedding. LINK
Obama Takes the Lead
For the first time Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton in superdelegates. LINK
Is This Endgame for Clinton?
George Stephanopoulos gives the bottom line on the '08 Democratic race. LINK
'This Week All Week' Webcast
How long will Clinton continue to fight? LINK
Clinton Races Through Upcoming States
Obama leads in delegates, but Clinton continues to push for the nomination. LINK
New Direction of Obama's Campaign
George Stephanopoulos talks about Obama's superdelegate strategy. LINK