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Gay superdelegate leaning toward Clinton after Pa. win
By John Wright
Apr 24, 2008 - 9:41:30 PM

Dallas’ Davis Hardt says he’s ‘very disappointed’ with Obama’s showing in November swing state



If David Hardt’s opinions reflect the consensus among uncommitted Democratic superdelegates, Sen. Hillary Clinton has a better chance of winning the party’s presidential nomination than most believe.

Hardt, a gay uncommitted superdelegate from Dallas, said Wednesday, April 23 that he’s leaning toward supporting Clinton based on her decisive victory in the Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday, April 22.

Hardt said it marked another poor showing by Obama among white, working-class, swing voters in a state Democrats must win to defeat likely Republican nominee John McCain in November. In an interview with Dallas Voice on Wednesday, Hardt said he may commit as early as the next few days.

“I was very disappointed in Sen. Obama’s performance in Pennsylvania,” Hardt said. “If he can’t get those votes in the Democratic primary, how’s he going to get those votes in the general election?”

Hardt and the nearly 800 other Democratic superdelegates likely will decide the race between Clinton and Obama.

That’s because neither candidate can capture the 2,025 delegates needed to win the nomination in the remaining contests.

Sen. Hilary Clinton (left) and Sen. Barack Obama (right)
Obama currently leads Clinton, with 1,719 delegates to her 1,586. That includes the roughly 500 superdelegates who’ve committed, but another 250 remain uncommitted.

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has called on uncommitted superdelegates to make up their minds.

Hardt, a member of the DNC and president of Young Democrats of America, acknowledged that a protracted, increasingly negative campaign could hurt the party’s chances slightly in November. But he said fairness to voters in remaining states overrides that concern.

Indiana and North Carolina are next to vote, going to the polls on May 6, with the final contest coming June 3.

“I think a lot of superdelegates, myself included, don’t like the notion of party leaders trying to force people into ending the election until everyone has a chance to vote,” Hardt said. “I think that’s a bit undemocratic.”

Hardt said the remaining states are particularly important because they may determine who wins the nationwide popular vote.

Without superdelegates, Clinton isn’t expected to catch Obama in the pledged delegate count, which is why he is considered the heavy favorite at this point.

However, she could catch him in the popular vote, which he currently leads 14.4 million to 13.9 million.

It’s doubtful superdelegates would go against Obama if he wins both the pledged delegate count and the popular vote, but a victory by Clinton in the popular vote would create room for debate.

“For superdelegates that are left, it’s going to be very difficult for us to say the will of the people has said that Sen. Obama is the choice,” Hardt said, noting that Democrats were angry when Al Gore lost to George Bush in 2000 despite winning the popular vote. “It will be very difficult for us to say we have to all support Obama because he has the pledged vote.”

Hardt is one of 32 superdelegates from Texas and one of 20 LGBT superdelegates nationwide.

Clinton leads Obama 13-10 in Texas superdelegates, with nine uncommitted, according to news reports. She leads Obama 11-3 among gay superdelegates, with six uncommitted.

Hardt said his decision is especially difficult because a majority of the gay community supports Clinton, while a majority of Young Democrats of America members support Obama.

“My partner is very, very pro-Hillary, and I understand that in the gay community, Hillary is extremely popular,” Hardt said. “I’m kind of in a tight situation here.”



This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 25, 2008.




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