The Iowa Independent - Latest Comments in Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:17:31 -0000

More from Biden, Dodd, and Richardson I don't know how much clearer this can really be:

http://www.essential...

From Robert Becker, the Richardson Iowa director:

"Here we are the day of caucus and there are all these rumors about deals being made," he said. "I'm just sick of it. We have not directed our supporters to caucus for anyone other than Bill Richardson.""

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

BionicWoman — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:36:30 -0000

A Richardson Insult If this is true, then it is an insult. This guy asks us for our support and loyalty - yet he is ready to give up before the caucus has begun. Who needs a president like this? If I wanted to vote for Obama, I would. I don't need him to tell me who to vote for. How dare he even consider such a thing. He has lost my respect. Who needs the bum!!

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

LisaMpls — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:34:38 -0000

If this is true, then Richardson = misleading I don't know much about this deal-making stuff at caucuses, but it seems kind of dishonest and filthy to me. Campaigns shouldn't be able to make deals that determine how the American voice will be heard. "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" seems like it undermines the whole caucus process. The individuals at a particular caucus should be able to "vote" how they want without having to be told, hey, your non-viable candidate told you to do this because then they will pay us back later, I promise. Seems misleading by Richardson, too...what appears to be him supporting Obama is really a plot (albeit a bad one) to further his own agenda.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

chuck — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:08:47 -0000

From a New Mexican I hope that it isn't true that Bill Richardson is sending his followers to Barack Obama. As I stand here I am in favor of Richardson and his experience and if thats where it stands I won't even vote for him. Barack Obama has no foriegn experience and at this point in time I don't we believe to hand out the presidency as an on the training program.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

IowaCubs — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:29:29 -0000

In my Des Moines Precinct... In my precinct in Des Moines, I'm the precinct captain for Obama. I went outside Obama's campaign to reach out to the Richardson campaign's precinct captain here.

We've agreed to boost each other's group to increase either viability or to give the other the extra delegate. For example, if the Obama group needs 6 extra people for an extra delegate and the Richardson crew has 10 more people than they need, then they will give us those 6 extra people.

Not sure if this is happening in other precincts.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Richardson Campaign — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:06:28 -0000

Update from the The report is "completely false," said Richardson campaign spokeswoman Katie Roberts.

"We are viable throughout Iowa. We have strong support throughout the state and are looking forward to tonight," she said. "This is just last-minute rumor buzz that has no truth to it. The Richardson for President campaign is looking forward to finishing in the final four and moving on to the New Hampshire primary."

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

EdNSted — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:28:05 -0000

...that was never meant to be announced publicly? Would you care to clarify that statement?

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

barackoblogger — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:13:21 -0000

Where to caucus Supporters of Barack Obama who want to caucus but don't know their caucus location can go to:

www.iowa.barackobama.com to find their caucus location.

Republicans and independents who wish to support Barack can change their party affiliation at the polls to Democratic.

6:30pm tonight!!!

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

julia — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:05:33 -0000

and yet somehow this insider information that's been kept secret for strategic reasons inside a campaign somehow got to you on the day of the caucus so you could announce it.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

New Yorker — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:53:04 -0000

Doubt it At several of the debates Richardson seemed to be excessively warm towards Hillary -- most notably when he interrupted the "pile on" against her at a time when she looked vulnerable. At the time it was rumored that he was angling for the VP slot on her ticket and I still think that's a more likely scenario.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

vwcat — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:49:02 -0000

Biden deal Obama and Biden camp in talks for a deal as well.

Ben Smith on Poltico has the details.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Rovert_V — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:48:17 -0000

Political suicide for Richardson? I find this most interesting, since a victory by Obama tonight in Iowa will not lock the nomination for him. Hillary is the on-odds favorite to win, even if she comes 3rd in Iowa. so if Hillary still wins, even after these manouvering from Biden and Richardson, they can kiss goodbye any hopes of the VP slot or the Secretary of State post!! I believe that the value of Iowa is a little overstated. As a matter of fact there are voters, me for instance, that will make a point of voting for anybody, but the winner of Iowa. I just don't understand how 150,000 hicks form the boondocks get to tell the rest of the country who we should vote for. It is ridiculous, and a sure recipie for disaster. I don't want to get stuck with another GW Bush,, whether he comes from the left or the right!!!!

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Gertrude — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:05:37 -0000

Step away from the koolaid If hope were all that was needed, the world would already be a better place than it is. What we need is someone who's able to do the hard work necessary to solve some of our problems. My head tells me Obama is not that person.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Dan, TX — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:48:02 -0000

Rumor only No one on the Obama blog thinks this is true. This is just a rumor.

Obama would not float this type of rumor.

Obama supporters do not believe this rumor and neither should anyone else.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Nick — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:27:10 -0000

This is what's wrong This back-room bargaining, though it has always existed, is precisely what is wrong with the Iowa caucuses on the Democratic side. Richardson, Biden, et. al. though terrific and often visionary men, have not a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination. This arcane system of being able to direct your second choice to another candidate only to improve one's chances in NH is ridiculous. If a candidate cannot muster the support, he or she should drop out and let the viable candidates genuinely earn the support of caucus goers.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:14:45 -0000

It looks like a little wishful thinking possibly based on anecdotal evidence that is leading to speculation something might be in the works.

Is it smoke from a fire? Or is it someone just saying they see smoke to create a fire?

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:12:30 -0000

It makes perfect post-2008 sense ...if Richardson is looking for a cabinet position in an Obama White House. Richardson has long been rumored to be in the hunt for the #2 slot or a State Dept gig.

It appears as though he's simply taking the time-honored approach of a down-poll candidate hitching his wagon to the front runner he thinks will win the White House since he has absolutely no chance of it himself.

What's fascinating is that Richardson -- the consummate Washington insider -- would snub Clinton, with whom he is more ideologically-tuned. There appears to have been a falling out between the two camps a few weeks ago when Richardson took the gloves off and hammered Clinton on shifting her position on the Iraq War in one of the 3,568,293 debates the Dems have held this cycle.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:12:02 -0000

That doesn't make much sense then if the sources aren't within either of the campaigns involved, who else would be in a position to really know? And how can this be presented as fact?

Thats seems to really undercut the validity of the "exclusive", especially when you have an offical spokesperson denying it.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

shockjock — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:51:41 -0000

Obama - Richardson Ticket '08 Obama - Richardson Ticket '08

You heard it first here and you can take that to the bank.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

seanh — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:06:32 -0000

huffpo the response at openleft was in regards to the Huffpo article, which also cites unnamed sources claiming Richardson would direct his supporters towards Obama. Check the timestamp on the article I'm posting below.

Obama On Track To Win Caucus 2nd Tier Support

Posted January 2, 2008 | 03:45 PM (EST)

http://www.huffingto...

"Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, "We've heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren't viable. Nothing definitive but there's a trend going on," she added with a smile. Ah, that's an understatement.

All of this off-the-record conversation and backroom pol talk could be nothing or something.

But the fact that the rumors are flying and top aides are willing to discuss their thinking with Offthebus, albeit without disclosing their names, is still enough smoke to detect yet another spark that could ignite a fire under the Obama campaign's fortunes in the Iowa caucuses."

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

katerina — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:46:25 -0000

Then where did the info come from? Wasn't the whole idea that this was supposed to be hush-hush? Who else would have the info? Sounds like last-minute gamesmanship to me. And the only ones who would gain from this sort of game is Obama's team.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

kubla000 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:28:31 -0000

look at the timestamps! if you read the timestamp of the rebuttal, it's before the timestamp of this posting...

how does that work?

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:23:26 -0000

Nope This story wasn't being pushed by any campaigns.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:07:37 -0000

Thats my take as well similar to the Biden rumors, which have also been dispelled:

http://marcambinder....

My guess is its a kind of a bank shot to try to get more 2nd choice caucusers.

Re: Richardson set to send Obama second-choice support

katerina — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:06:11 -0000

Sounds like a move by Obama's camp to try to psych out the other candidates. These rumors originated with unnamed Obama aides. What do they have to lose from floating such stories? Nothing. Biden and Richardson teams deny but there will be those that will believe anyway. What do they gain? Some spin in the momentum wars and perhaps some R & B supporters who may actually take this as guidance on what to do on 2nd round (though suspect most will be too independent to be dictated to and will throw their support to whomever they please). However, for the R & B camps, this doesn't help them at all. Instead, it just makes them look like they think their cause is as hopeless as Kucinich -- NOT a move they would make the night before the caucus. Someone's being played for a sucker here.