Another superdelegate backs Obama
Another Oklahoma superdelegate backs Obama
By Chris Casteel
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Published: May 6, 2008
WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton may have won Oklahoma's Democratic presidential primary by a wide margin in February, but Sen. Barack Obama is winning the battle of superdelegates.
Kalyn Free, a former Pittsburg County district attorney who now helps American Indians run for public office, on Monday became the fourth Oklahoma superdelegate to endorse Obama, of Illinois. Only one of the state's 10 superdelegates is backing Clinton, of New York, who won all five Oklahoma congressional districts and 55 percent of the vote statewide in Oklahoma's primary on Feb. 5; there are five state superdelegates who have not announced a preference. Superdelegates are the 796 elected officials and party insiders who may ultimately decide the Democratic presidential nominee, since neither Obama nor Clinton is likely to garner enough of the pledged delegates allocated by primary voting. Obama leads in pledged delegates, while Clinton has a narrow lead of 268 to 256 of the superdelegates who have committed so far.
Support for tribal issues
Free called Obama a "once-in-a-generation kind of leader” who is "committed to bringing American Indians into the national discussion and into the political process as voters, organizers and leaders.”
Free, the founder of INDN's List, which recruits and supports Indian candidates, was named a superdelegate by the Democratic National Committee.
"As a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, I am proud of what it means to be an American Indian,” Free said. "I am proud Barack Obama is committed to our unique issues and willing to tackle our toughest problems, from historical inequities and injustices to contemporary issues, like protection of our right to tribal self-determination, access to health care for our elders, and education for our children.”
Gov. Brad Henry announced two weeks ago he was backing Obama, who also has the support of state Democratic Party Vice Chairman Kitti Asberry and state party worker Reggie Whitten.
Clinton has the backing of one state superdelegate, Betty McElderry, who is on the Democratic National Committee.
U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, and state party chairman Ivan Holmes, are among the state superdelegates who haven't announced a preference.
Related Topics:
Special Interest Groups, Politics, U.S. Politics, Elections and Voting, U.S. Democratic Party Politics, Political Parties, Native American Issues, U.S. Presidential Election
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