Update: Delegate Switching, Net Gain +8 for Obama

[Infinite Hope]

Switch from Clinton to Obama:
1)DNC Member Christine Samuels (Yesterday)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23182117 /
2)Congressman David Scott (Yesterday)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23182117 /
3)Congressman John Lewis (Today)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/us/politics/15clinton.html?ei=5124&en=73188ceb984cb38e&ex=1360818000&adxnnl=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&adxnnlx=1203123863-pSFlIVQJMQMomAFGkIJ1+g">New York Times
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/15/key_superdelegate_switches_to_obama/">Boston Globe
The theory on John Lewis (MSNBC) is that he's keeping his endorsement with Clinton, but will use his superdelegate vote for Obama as he has clearly stated to the New York Times.

Switch from Clinton to uncommitted:
1)Sophie Masloff of Pennsylvania today (Yesterday - May duplicate #1 or 2 here from the MSNBC report)
2)Nancy Larson of Minnesota (Yesterday)

Additional: MSNBC is reporting 2 superdelegates from Pennsylvania have now switched. I caught the story at the end so I didn't hear who. This number may include Sophie Masloff above and so one may be a duplicate.

So what do we have for sure? The net two day total is:
Clinton -5
Obama +3

Also referenced here:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/14/212726/261/...
"UPDATE: As pointed out in the diary posted just before mine, Rep. John Lewis is switching from Clinton to Obama as well. This makes his total net delegate margin gain from the defections a +8"

I predicted after Super Tuesday that early Clinton superdelegates would begin switching and sure enough...

Please provide additions in comments as they come out in the next couple days.

[K Gardner]

1. Kick for the mass exodus ! Just heard this on MSNBC, let's keep it current.

[Infinite Hope]

19. It's updated. (See Saturday Update below) n/t

[shaniqua6392]

2. I think the Rep. John Lewis switching is a rumor.

I would chalk that up to the pro-Obama media jumping the gun again. He may go for Obama in the end, but for now he remains neutral.
http://www.ajc.com/master/content/news/stories/2008/02/15/lewis_0215.html

[Infinite Hope]

3. He's quoted in an interview with the New York Times. It is what it is. n/t

[babylonsister]

6. On Lewis~

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/178732.php

More on Lewis
02.15.08 -- 1:00PM
By Josh Marshall

There's obviously been a lot of chatter and confusion this morning about just what Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) told the Times and whether the Times got the story wrong. Times reporter Jeff Zeleny is standing by the story and says that Lewis will cast his super delegate vote for Obama, apparently regardless of who wins the most pledged delegates, to honor the wishes of his constituents. Whatever the particulars, the gist seems to be what I characterized it as last night. This isn't mainly about an endorsement or an unendorsement. The real issue here is the Clinton camp's professed willingness to win on super delegates even if they end up with fewer pledged delegates than Obama. The Times may have gotten some nuances wrong, or perhaps Lewis's camp wasn't completely comfortable with how things looked when they saw it on paper. But the bottom line message is that he won't go along with the Clinton strategy.

[Maribelle]

4. Your information only goes up to 2-14-2008

2-15-2008

- Add DNC member Ruth Rudy (PA) for Clinton
- Add DNC member Ian Murray(PA) for Clinton

- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that John Lewis' office is denying reports that he has switched to Obama, and should be added back for Clinton, for the time being

[Infinite Hope]

13. Did they switch from Obama? The main post is about switches. Read the headline. n/t

[Cha]

5. This is very encouraging..

with each day as a heart stopper!

[calteacherguy]

7. What, no Obama to Clinton?

:rofl:

Couldn't resist.

[flyarm]

8. wonder if the Super delegates know Obama said and did this?

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/30/obama-vows-do-whats-right/?news-breaking
Barack Obama held an impromptu news conference after a Tampa fundraiser Sunday.


By WILLIAM MARCH and ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2007



TAMPA - Barack Obama hinted during a Tampa fundraiser Sunday that if he's the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, he'll seat a Florida delegation at the party's national convention, despite national party sanctions prohibiting it.

Obama also appeared to violate a pledge he and the other leading candidates took by holding a brief news conference outside the fundraiser. That was less than a day after the pledge took effect Saturday, and Obama is the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit Florida since then.Obama and others have pledged not to campaign in Florida until the Jan. 29 primary except for fundraising, which is what he was doing in Tampa.

But after the fundraiser at the Hyde Park home of Tom and Linda Scarritt, Obama crossed the street to take half a dozen questions from reporters waiting there.

The pledge covers anything referred to in Democratic National Committee rules as "campaigning," and those include "holding news conferences."

Obama seemed unaware the pledge he signed prohibits news conferences. Asked whether he was violating it, he said, "I was just doing you guys a favor. … If that's the case, then we won't do it again."

[babylonsister]

10. From September? Whole 'nother ballgame now. nt

[Infinite Hope]

14. I've said he would. He or Clinton should seat them IF they aren't going to sway the outcome.

For party unity, if Michigan and Florida won't alter the outcome (one candidate has a significant lead) then they should be seated and following the election, the primary/caucus system revamped completely from dates to superdelegates.

[scheming daemons]

17. flyarm... continually bad at reading comprehension... and still doing the work of the GOP...

....

[grantcart]

9. drip+drip+drip = Guam nt

[msongs]

11. gee when clinton might have won with superdelegates it was a crime against humanity. oh well nt

[Infinite Hope]

15. People's compaints on the SD's are related to them contradicting the win of the voters.

There's an obvious distinction that rationale voters of all persuasions can understand.

[Major Hogwash]

12. wow, they're not even going to wait until the fantasy convention season is here?

I wonder what made them think their switching like this was important now?

[grantcart]

16. kick

[Infinite Hope]

18. UPDATE! ANOTHER SWITCH from Clinton to Obama. (Saturday Update)

"Sarah Swisher, a superdelegate and an SEIU member from Iowa City, switched from Clinton to Obama after her union's endorsement."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080216/ap_on_el_pr/obama_19

Net gain Obama +10:
Clinton - 6
Obama +4

[RiverStone]

20. Thanks Infinite Hope --- keep us posted as this list grows!

:applause: