Two democrats turn away from Obama
Two Democratic delegates have refused to endorse Barack Obama even as party leaders are calling for unity.
Yesterday, Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney didn’t actually say that he wasn’t going to endorse Obama, but says he wants to remain uncommitted. He went on to say that he wants the opportunity to work with Sen. John McCain on key issues.
Mahoney, who was a Republican but switched to the Democratic Party in 2005, calls himself a “good Democrat” and says, “I think that Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton are where my constituents want to be more than Sen. McCain. But I also think it’s important between now and then to do everything I can to get Sen. McCain on the same page” on catastrophe insurance, Everglades restoration and other issues. [source]
Mahoney went on to say that his plans were to follow the will of his constituents and “I’m a Democrat, but am I going to have a pep rally or something like that? No, I’m not going to do that.”
Oklahoma Rep. Dan Boren also wants to listen to his constituents.
“We’re much more conservative,” Boren told The Associated Press.
His rural district stretches across the eastern part of the state and borders Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas.
“I’ve got to reflect my district. No one means more to me than the people who elected me. I have to listen to them,” Boren told the AP. [source]
He goes on to say that Barack Obama doesn’t show a record of bipartisanship, but considering all of this, he will vote for him at the Democratic Convention in August. Oklahoma Democrats did vote overwhelmingly for Clinton last February- a full 54% to Obama’s 31% [source], and coupled with the fact that he is Oklahoma’s only Democrat there’s little doubt that Boren is simply playing it safe.
An interesting fact about Mahoney: Prior to running for his seat in a district that is primarily Republican, he too was a Republican. In 2004 he switched parties because he was “disillusioned with the GOP”. He then challenged incumbent Mark Foley for his seat in 2006- prior to Foley stepping down amid the scandal involving him and a (then) 16 year-old page. Before the scandal broke, though, Foley was soundly beating Mahoney 48% to 35%. With an election looming in his not-so-distant future, Rep. Mahoney is quite possibly more interested in his job position than in his constituents.
The problem here isn’t really that these two Dems aren’t coming out and saying that they’re backing the presumptive nominee. The problems don’t start until after August, when during the General Election Obama will need their support to win over their constituents. It’s especially crucial for Red and Swing State delegates to work to get their candidate elected. Without their complete faith and backing, Obama could very well lose those states.
Oh wait. This is Oklahoma and Florida.
Both states were Republican strongholds during the 2004. In 2000 Oklahoma went to Bush (and, yes, Florida, too). In 1996, Oklahoma went to…Republican Bob Dole (Florida was a Clinton state then). Based on history, Florida’s a toss-up and Oklahoma is pretty much lost to the Democratic party.
Lizzie Flynn writes for The Hatchet’s Election 2008 blog.
