Bingaman throws weight behind Obama

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

4/28/2008 - 4/29/08

Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico on Monday became the latest superdelegate to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president.

As the battle for the Democratic nomination continues, each remaining superdelegate vote takes on more importance. Bingaman's announcement comes at a time when Obama, having lost the Pennsylvania primary to Sen. Hillary Clinton, seemed to have been losing momentum.

In a news release issued by the Obama campaign, Bingaman said, "Our nation faces a daunting number of critical challenges: reasserting America's leadership in the world, meeting our needs for energy independence, addressing global warming, making health care accessible and affordable, positioning our economy to effectively compete globally, and extricating ourselves from the war in Iraq, to name a few.

"To make progress, we must rise above the partisanship and the issues that divide us to find common ground. We must move the country in a dramatically new direction.

"I strongly believe Barack Obama is best positioned to lead the nation in that new direction."

Bingaman is one of only three New Mexico superdelegates to endorse Obama so far. The others are Gov. Bill Richardson and former U.S. Sen. Fred Harris. Six others have endorsed Clinton.

There still are three undecided New Mexico superdelegates: U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, state party chairman Brian Colón and American Indian activist Laurie Weahkee of Albuquerque, who was elected over the weekend by the state Democratic Central Committee as an at-large unpledged delegate.

Weahkee is the lead organizer for the Native American Voters Alliance, a project of the Albuquerque-based SAGE Council.

"I feel like both candidates have valuable assets," Weahkee said in an interview Monday. "I need more time to study and see which one will pay more attention to issues that affect the Native American community."

Bingaman's endorsement was one spot of good news for Obama, though it got only a fraction of media attention as the speech at the National Press Club by Obama's former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama repeatedly has been peppered with questions — and seemingly unending cable news coverage — about controversial sermons by Wright.

"The timing does seem odd, but politicians especially remember those who stood with them when the going got tough," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics in an e-mail to a reporter Monday. "Obama will surely recall that Bingaman endorsed him at a campaign nadir."

Sabato added, "I've seen other superdelegates come out for one candidate or another right after a defeat for the candidate. The campaigns have some endorsements 'banked' for use when they most need a boost. That is, the superdelegates have pledged their vote, and agree to release the news at the campaign's discretion." Sabato stressed that he didn't know whether this was the case with Bingaman.

Clinton also won an important superdelegate. North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley will announce today his support for Clinton, the Associated Press reported Monday. North Carolina holds a primary May 6.

The state Republican Party responded to Bingaman's endorsement, referring to Obama's recent controversial statement about "bitterness" in small towns.

"Today, Senator Bingaman endorsed the candidate who New Mexico Democrats did NOT choose in their presidential caucus," state GOP executive director Adam Feldman, said in a news release. "He chose to support the candidate who recently belittled and demeaned the values and beliefs held by rural New Mexicans. ... To be frank, Senator Bingaman's endorsement of Barack Obama is surprising, and as a product of small-town New Mexico himself, he should have known better than to back someone who is so clearly out-of-touch with the values New Mexicans are proud to hold."

The Washington Post political blog called "The Trail" noted Monday that Bingaman's support now gives Obama a one-vote edge among U.S. senators — all of whom will serve as superdelegates during the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Bingaman is the 14th senator to formally endorse Obama. Clinton has the support of 13 senators.

As of Monday, Clinton led among superdelegates 257 to 236, according to the Web site "2008 Democratic Convention Watch." But the plurality still is with the 301 superdelegates who haven't endorsed either candidate. Obama is leading with pledged delegates, 1,490 to 1,336.

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