Lobbying of Supers - Part 2 of 4

February - March, 2008: After Super Tuesday and as the race heated up, so did the lobbying.  The added emphasis on Supers at this time had some campaigns employing more creative techniques to reach Superdelegates.  This was the first sign of hysteria around Supers. Cable news was running amok with the issue and painting a picture that was just not accurate.  Around this time I wrote an Op-Ed for Politico which attempted to calm the hysteria around the issue of Superdelegates.

Some Supers got calls from the candidates themselves (I never spoke to either of them on the phone, though Senator Clinton did sit down the California DNC delegation twice in 2007).  Some got calls from Chelsea Clinton and Michelle Obama.

This also was, pardon my French, the starfucking phase of the lobbying.  Calls from celebrities, and Senators who had endorsed each candidate started rolling in.  Some Supers really enjoyed this, though it wasn't for me.  I told each campaign that these calls wouldn't sway me - I'd rather speak to the staff.  Though I have to be honest, had a call from Terry McAuliffe or Harold Ickes come my way, it probably would have been persuasive.  I worked under Ickes at America Coming Together in 2004, and have an immense amount of respect for Terry McAuliffe.  Everyone needs to read his book, What a Party!

After my work on the last debate, I remained uncommitted.  I was gearing up to go to work for Bev Perdue who was running for Governor of North Carolina.  I told the campaigns that I wasn't going to endorse while I had that job - I didn't want my politics to get in the way of my candidate's politics.

The Clinton campaign always worked the phones on election night. First on the night of Feb. 5th (Super Tuesday), then again on March 4th (Texas and Ohio), then again on April 22nd (Pennsylvania).  I probably got about four calls on each of those nights from the Clinton camp. Not surprisingly, those were also nights when Clinton experienced big wins.  I heard more from the Obama people during the month of February when there was a string of victories (I think it was 11 in a row).

I got a call from one of my contacts at the Obama campaign on the night of the Potomac primary (VA-DC-MD). I was in DC that night heading out to meet Sean Sinclair, one of the guys I work with quite a bit on campaigns, to talk dinner and politics while watching returns. There was an ice storm taking place and I had already slipped on the ice once, but I figured that the hiking boots I was wearing would hold firm the rest of the night.

While walking to the metro, I got a call from the Obama campaign and we were talking about the race, my upcoming job with the Perdue campaign in North Carolina, and then *WHAM* I slipped on the ice.  Fell back 90 degrees and landed flat on my ass, hit my head.  My phone slid about 10 feet away on the ice.  I sat there for a good two minutes trying to regain my composure, but also trying to get up from the ice (t'was very slippery).  I called the Obama campaign back, they answered "WTF you ok?"  For the next few weeks after that, whenever I got a call from the Obama campaign, I had an immediate  neuro-association with that smack in the head. 

During this time I also spoke to other Supers, one conversation in March with an elderly DNC member and Clinton supporter from California which turned especially sour.  I was stunned.  The only way I can describe it is that my DNC colleague verbally skinned me for not endorsing Clinton, or for at least not calling this person to let her know that I would not be endorsing during a given period.  She threw the kitchen sink at me, said that everything I had done in my 12 years of activism and professional work was being undermined by not endorsing, and for not running the decision through her first.  I was speechless.  I kept my cool, told her I would be in touch.

Arm-twisting through surrogates was actually common.  It happened quite a bit. It wasn't always as egregious as the example outlined above, but it could get rough.  After all we are dealing with the most powerful office in the world here.

Second in a series of four.

Comments

[Dominic]

During the Potomac Primaries, I had to drive 5 miles in that awfully fun mess to get my Ex to her voting station. I'm a registered Independent, and MD doesn't allow Independents to vote in the primaries, so I figured I'd do whatever I could so she could at least vote. We had recently moved in together and she'd forgotten to change her address on her registration.

(For those of you that don't know, driving 5 miles in D.C. Metro Area can often take over an hour, even in good weather.)

I skidded out in my jeep numerous times, ran off the road twice, and swerved into on-coming traffic to avoid a rear-end collision. It was worth it.

[Cranky Kate]

I'm so glad you decided to go ahead and do this series, timely or not. It's fascinating!

I may have missed in some earlier post, but if not, I hope you'll detail the point at which you made your decision, and what if anything solidified it for you. Thanks again for this site, Mr. Super!

[Regina]

Again very interesting! While you probably didn't like hearing from the older DNC woman, I'm glad they were telling you and other supers this. Not to be mean, but from sitting out here in the country and watching on TV, it sure did seem like there was no indication that there were hard-core Clinton people lobbying supers and I was being represented. Glad to hear there was, even if it didn't convince you.

[Joe]

Dominic: Wouldn't the Metro have been better? I didn't spend long in DC, but I know what a nightmare driving is and that the Metro is almost universally faster once you factor in parking... :/

On an off topic note, I have a couple more stories that may be of interest to some here (assuming they haven't already read them):

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/11/obama_returns_to_a_more_tradit.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080611/cm_thenation/15328690

[Mr Super]

Regina - the unprofessionalism that my DNC colleague exuded was nearly enough to have me declare for Obama on the spot. It was not effective nor was it appropriate in any way shape or form and I expect that these tactics actually turned some people on towards Obama. Really, it's nothing to be glad about.

[Regina]

Mr. Super, I'm sorry if the Clinton DNC member was rude. I didn't catch that in the initial post. Just remember there are a lot of us out here in America who are really disappointed that Sen. Clinton didn't win and was treated very badly by her own party. During the time you talked about being lobbied, all I saw on TV was how Obama's supporters were crucial, but no one ever talked about Clinton's supporters as if we existed or mattered. I was just glad to hear someone spoke on our behalf, though it sounds like she did a poor job of it. Too bad we didn't send you letters from real people earlier!