DCCC Chair Van Hollen Endorses Obama
Chris Van Hollen, the chair of the DCCC, breaks his neutrality and endorses Barack Obama, explicitly naming him as the party's nominee.
From a statement his office sent over...
"Our nominee Barack Obama is inspiring millions of Americans to register to vote and go to the polls. In November, voters will have a clear choice between Barack Obama's real change versus John McCain's status quo as he runs for a third Bush term..."I congratulate Senator Barack Obama. He is an exceptional leader who continues to inspire the entire nation with his message of change. I look forward to working with him during this campaign and as our next President."
The question now is how long it will take other party leaders (Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi) to use the word "nominee" to describe Obama.
Van Hollen's full statement after the jump.
"Over these past five months, we have seen the Democratic presidential nominating contests energize our Party and bring record numbers of new Democrats into the political process. This record enthusiasm has already helped to grow our Majority in Congress through three straight special election wins. Our momentum will continue to move the Democratic Party toward our goal of winning the White House and expanding our Majorities in Congress."The enthusiasm, new voters, and Americans' demand for change has clearly expanded the playing field for House Democrats this fall. Our nominee Barack Obama is inspiring millions of Americans to register to vote and go to the polls. In November, voters will have a clear choice between Barack Obama's real change versus John McCain's status quo as he runs for a third Bush term.
"I congratulate Senator Hillary Clinton on her outstanding and groundbreaking campaign. She will continue to be a tremendous asset in uniting our Party, electing a Democrat president and helping to grow our Majority in the House.
"I congratulate Senator Barack Obama. He is an exceptional leader who continues to inspire the entire nation with his message of change. I look forward to working with him during this campaign and as our next President."
Keep 'em coming, folks!!! All remaining 192 for Obama today!!!
June 4, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank goodness that someone is starting to call him the NOMINEE!
June 4, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oops, make that 142 - damn fast fingers of mine.
June 4, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
At first glance it looked like Eddie Van Halen endorsed her...gotta stop reading the headlines so fast! :-)
June 4, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
At first glance it looked like Eddie Van Halen endorsed him...gotta stop reading the headlines so fast! :-)
June 4, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
At first glance, I thought the same thing: wooo "Van Hollen" rocks!
June 4, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
How many supers switched from Team Deranged Narcissist to Team Obama yesterday?
June 4, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I count 9 that switched from Clinton to Obama yesterday on DemCon Watch.
June 4, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Van Hollen is my Representative and I have tremendous respect for him. He had to hold off on endorsing anyone because of his position on the DCCC, but also because Hillary very graciously raised money for his campaign a few years ago.
I'm glad he came out strong on this. I'm sure it was a relief for him to be able to.
June 4, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I went to hear Michele speak at Bethesda HS the day before the MD Primary. The introduction was given by Van Hollen's daughter, who I expect will follow her father's footsteps. It seemed pretty clear from her talking about her dad, that even then Van Hollen would have endorsed early on were it not for his position in House Leadership.
Now if my rep. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer could actually get around to Leading the majority and endorse, it shouldn't be long until the whole undecided House delegation comes forward. Pelosi I can understand may want to continue to be officially neutral as Chair of the Convention, but what is Steny waiting for?
June 4, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mine, too. I was disappointed he didn't come out for Obama earlier but I certainly understand why. I don't doubt for one second that virtually every big bucks Hillary supporter who also donates to the DCCC told him that if he endorses Obama, the DCCC doesn't get a penny for this cycle.
June 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, when does Al Gore endorse?
June 4, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am disappointed in him waiting as long as he has, as, once again, Obama mentioned global warming last night. Frankly, Al is pissing me off.
June 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought Gore should have endorsed the minute Hillary promoted the gas tax holiday; I was extremely disappointed in him when he didn't, elder statesman be damned!!
June 4, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
The trick will be fending off Shrillary all summer as she keeps trying to swoop in and steal the superdels back to her camp. DNC rules state SD's are not locked in until they formally vote for her in August.
June 4, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
BO giving a speech live on cable networks now at AIPAC
June 4, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, will check that out.
June 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
And just this morning, Terry states that PLEDGED delegates are also open game for moving from him to her.
I must visit Delusional Island - I hear it's gorgeous this time of year!
June 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
My fellow New Yorkers. We also must make time for an intervention. Our junior senator has been MIA for almost two years. Now that Senator Clinton has been released from the bizarre buuble of the presidential campaign, we must remind her that she has been cashing her paychecks all along. Call, email or write her officeand website and demand that she gets back to work for us! Otherwise, she should resign her office immediately.
June 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it's about fucking time. We campaigned hard for him in MD and I was starting to regret it.
June 4, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I finally blogged it! ;)
(The poem, I mean!)
June 4, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yay! Someone was asking for celebratory songs to capture the moment yesterday. I heard one coming into work this morning that captured how I felt about Obama yesterday:
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
It was a good day, yes?
June 4, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCauliffe:
"Note that he doesn't specifically use the word endorsement. Van Hollen simply says the he looks 'forward to working'with Obama.
"It is these outrageous assumptions that are being made that Sen. Clinton finds so objectionable. These declarations of support for Obama, by the superdelegates, are ambiguous at best, and certainly not legally binding. This is far from over!!"
June 4, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
You have to stop that!
I can never tell when you're joking.
June 4, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Party leaders, when will Hillary endorse...oh, never mind.
June 4, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering about our undeclared SD's and what party they represent today and for tomorrow. All of them who don't announce today are pandering to a deranged and delusuinal individual who absolutley deserves the total respect of the GOP for crafting a ploy to undermine the democratic party nominee. I have emailed several of them and will not retreat from giving them until the end of today to endorse. there is no acceptable execuse or reason to delay. Barack has won and to the winner goes their support.
Hillary played all the media for fools yesterday but today she is playing the undeclared SD's for fools!
June 4, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I see this wishy-washiness as the exact problem with the Dems and a big part of why we're where we are today. It's so easy to blame all of our problems on Bush and his Keystone Cop administration, but we all know that the Dems did their part in helping them create the mess that we're in. It's time for the Party to pull itself up and take some responsibility here and start to LEAD.
June 4, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
The ball is in Hillary's court.
Is she a Democrat, willing to stand behind our nominee, or not?
Her future in the party is now what's at stake. I hope she makes the right choice. And in that, I surely hope she does NOT listen to whoever told her not to congratulate Obama last night on his WIN.
Totally classless.
June 4, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not. She's in this for what it will do for her. And she's willing to burn down the whole f'ing country, if necessary, to get what she wants.
June 4, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone know if she has to ability to - you know - build a nuclear bomb?
I'm just wondering how far she might take this.
June 4, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Dems are doing their best to live up to the "weak" stereotype. The fact that Pelosi and Reid haven't publicly called Obama the nominee is a true travesty. Their kid gloves treatment of Clinton won't make her less divisive or less likely to screw the party over.
Clinton had weeks (actually since Super Tuesday!) to prepare herself and her supporters for yesterday. She made a choice not to do that and should not be coddled.
June 4, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree; she totally enabled her supporters and fostered all the anger and disappointment they are feeling today. If the wounds are too deep to heal between now and November the blame lies with her.
Just imagine if the situation had been reversed and the probability of winning had been nonexistent for Obama for months--the party would have shouldered him out of the picture faster than you could whistle Dixie, only he wouldn't have had a political dynasty at his disposal shoring up a quixotic campaign.
I guess some of the blame lies with the MSM for playing up the theater of it all; it certainly helped their ratings.
June 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Last night was awesome! I can't stop thinking about it!! It was so inspiring.... so many diverse people brought together for political action. So many people excited by our candidate, by the process, by the competition. It was great! I have no worries after being there last night. We will unite, we will defeat the GOP, so much positive energy can change the world!!
Totally exceeded expectations!!!
June 4, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thought about you last night, Joseph...it must have been truly a great eveing for you!
June 4, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was, it was. Truely dramatic and dynamic. I posted a couple comments earlier today on the whole experience if you want the details. Just click on my user name, if you wanna read them.
Just a great experience and I have no doubts we have a great candidate to rally behind. There will be unity! It was active and alive in St. Paul last night.
June 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Glad you were there to represent the TPM gang! :)
June 4, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was scanning the audience for a guy in an eyepatch, but I didn't see you there. :)
June 4, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Reid, Pelosi, Dean, and Gore endorse last; after Clinton concedes at least. She is entitled to some time to let this sink in, talk to Obama, and raise some more money to pay off her debts.
June 4, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink