Wayne Holland endorses Obama; Becker and Corroon seek delegate spots

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Submitted by lucidity on Thu, 04/10/2008 - 10:25am.

That's one more superdelegate for Obama (Salt Lake Tribune):

Holland is one of six Utah superdelegates who can decide whom to support for the Democratic nominee regardless of the results of the state primary. But in explaining his decision, Holland leaned heavily on Obama's big win in Utah's Feb. 5 vote.

"Sen. Obama has helped to energize our state party," Holland said in a statement. "While we are blessed at having two exceptional candidates, Obama was clearly the choice of Utah Democrats."

Utah's other five superdelegates remain split. Former U.S. Rep. Bill Orton is backing Obama, while former state Sen. Karen Hale and state party committeewoman Helen Langan are backing Clinton. Though, Hale and Langan are considering a switch to Obama.

Rep. Jim Matheson remains undecided. Holland will name the sixth superdelegate during the state Democratic convention in May.

Ralph Becker and Peter Corroon, as well as our own Political Action Committee chair Sheryl Ginsberg, have applied to be some of Utah's 23 pledged delegates (Salt Lake Tribune):

The two mayors, who have applied to be National Democratic Convention delegates, have pledged to back presidential hopeful Barack Obama if they are picked to represent Utah at the Denver gathering.

They join a wave of Beehive State applicants who are breaking "overwhelmingly" toward the Illinois senator, according to Rob Miller, vice chairman of the Utah Democratic Party. [...]

At a forum in Salt Lake City last week, the CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee said both Becker and Corroon would have "prominent roles" in Denver to showcase the West's rising prominence. She stopped short of pledging speaking slots.

Miller said mayors are not guaranteed spots as delegates. "They have to run like any other Utah resident," he said.

Update: Read Wayne's full statement at Utah Amicus.

Pete Ashdown...

#707 On Mon, 04/14/2008 4:22pm UtahOwl said,

would also like to be a delegate. But selection is pretty complicated. There have to be so many for Obama & so many for Clinton (according to the popular vote - I think this gives Barack about 2/3 of the delegates). Then a balance of men vs. women, diversity...Oy veh!

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It's a walk in the park...

#709 On Tue, 04/15/2008 3:36pm emoticon said,

I think the process is very bizarre.

You sign up to run in your congressional district (mine is #2; Jim Matheson). you are voted on by the delegates within that district.

You choose who you want to support. Obama or Billary. A person who is signed up to be an Obama delegate female, for example, can also run as an At Large delegate if one loses the Friday night vote (within your congressional district) which is voted on by the Whole State Delegates.

One may also run as a PLEO if one is a Party officer (Precinct Chair, Mayor,Councilperson).

Wayne also will endorse a person at the convention whom he wishes to be voted in to National Delegate. Sometimes this is a person who has done much for the party. This person will be voted on, but I get the feeling that if Wayne endorses them, it is a done deal.

Some people who have elected offices are running in as many options as they can. This being a very exciting election, who can blame them?!

I would like to see Pete Ashdown win over someone who already has an elected office in the State. Pete deserves to be a national delegate, in my opinion. Not that anyone asked me, but that's what I think.
Easy Peasy.

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