'Superdelegates' get campaign contributions

Only one of state's 12 party leaders has announced support

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

2/19/2008 - 2/20/08

At least two of New Mexico's Democratic "superdelegates" — party leaders who might end up choosing the nominee for president if the race between U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton remains tight — have received campaign contributions from the candidates.

Obama's political action committee, Hope Fund, in 2005 made two contributions totaling $4,200 to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman's 2006 re-election campaign. Meanwhile, Clinton's HILLPAC gave $5,000 to Gov. Bill Richardson's 2006 gubernatorial race.

Public information officers for Bingaman and Richardson said Tuesday that the campaign contributions would have no effect on how either man would vote at this summer's Democratic National Convention in Denver.

However, the Center for Responsive Politics — which recently reported Obama and Clinton have contributed more than $900,000 to superdelegates' campaigns in the past three years — said there's evidence these contributions sway votes, and recipients tend to back whichever presidential candidate gave them the most money.

"Campaign contributions have been a generally reliable predictor of whose side a superdelegate will take," the Feb. 14 report says. "In cases where superdelegates had received contributions from both Clinton and Obama, seven out of eight elected officials who received more money from Clinton have committed to her."

Massie Ritsch, a CRP spokesman, said Tuesday that Clinton and Obama probably didn't give the contributions thinking of the recipients as superdelegates. "They probably thought of them as party leaders who have influence," he said. "The contributions probably were given in hopes that one day (the recipients) could do them a favor. Contributions usually are given to build relationships and earn favors to be called in later."

Jude McCartin, a spokeswoman for Bingaman, said Tuesday that the senator is predicting the race between Obama and Clinton will be over before the convention. "He will support the nominee of the party," she said. "Senator Bingaman believes both are extremely capable."

Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said: "Senator Clinton contributed to the governor's campaign because of their long relationship and because she supported his candidacy (for governor). The governor would not have accepted the contribution if it had anything to do with how he votes at the convention."

Richardson, until January, was one of Clinton's competitors in the presidential race.

Shipley said he doesn't know whether Richardson will endorse either candidate before the convention.

The Center for Responsive Government reported that Obama, through his PAC and campaign, has passed out nearly $700,000 in campaign contributions to superdelegates nationwide since 2005. Clinton has contributed more than $200,000 to superdelegates' campaigns during the same period.

New Mexico has a total of 12 superdelegates, one of whom has yet to be selected by the state Central Committee. In addition, there are 26 pledged delegates elected by the caucus. Clinton will get 14 of those while Obama will get 12.

While officially "unpledged," six of the state's superdelegates were included on a list of Clinton's "Statewide Leadership Council" shortly before the Feb. 5 New Mexico caucus, which Clinton won narrowly. These were Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, state party vice chairwoman Annadelle Sanchez, national committeewoman Mary Gail Gwaltney, national committeeman Raymond Sanchez and national committeewoman Christine Trujillo.

Only one superdelegate has announced his support for Obama. That's former Democratic National Committee chairman and former U.S. Sen. Fred Harris.

Besides Richardson and Bingaman, other superdelegates who haven't announced a preference are U.S. Rep. Tom Udall and state Democratic Party chairman Brian Colón.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.




ON THE WEB

Center for Responsive Government: www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=336