Superdelegates Should Follow Voters: Pelosi

Speaker agrees with Obama as hopeful gains 14 delegates
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 16, 2008 7:11 PM CDT
Superdelegates Should Follow Voters: Pelosi
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., shake hands after a Democratic presidential debate in this Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 file photo.   (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Nancy Pelosi boosted Barack Obama today by saying superdelegates should vote with the people, Politico reports. “If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party,” the House speaker said on ABC’s "This Week". Ex-lawmaker Bill Bradley went further on "Meet the Press," warning that superdelegates who ignore constituents may face tough battles in future elections.

But Leon Panetta, former staff chief to Bill Clinton, argued today that "superdelegates were created as a separate body." They "have to consider who has the strongest chance of winning in November," he said. Meanwhile nine Iowa delegates swung to Barack Obama this weekend and five joined his ranks from California, the Swamp reports. Obama’s delegate count now beats Clinton’s by 119. (More Nancy Pelosi stories.)

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