Wednesday, February 20, 2008
3:02 PM
Kind backing Obama, Kagen holding off
Democratic U.S. Reps. Ron Kind of LaCrosse and Steve Kagen of Appleton each said before Tuesday's Wisconsin presidential primary that they would pledge their super delegate vote to whoever won the most votes in their respective Congressional districts.
Kind released a statement Wednesday saying he would now back Barack Obama after the Illinois senator topped Hillary Clinton in his district. Obama also won Kagen's district, but his office declined to say today who the congressman would support.
A Democratic source familiar with Kagen's plans said the congressman had placed telephone calls to both Clinton and Obama. This source indicated that Kagen was unlikely to publicly endorse either one of the candidates until he had spoken with them personally.
Obama won Kind's district with about 57 percent of the vote.
"Senator Obama's message of change and unity resonated with voters in Wisconsin as it has with voters across the country," Kind said in a statement released by his office. "My constituents overwhelmingly chose Barack Obama to be their nominee, and I am proud to pledge my super-delegate vote to him as well."
Obama won 17 out of the 19 counties included in Kind's seat.
Most Democrats elected to state and federal office are "super delegates," as are a number of Democratic Party activists. They are free to pledge their delegate to whichever Democratic presidential candidate they choose.
U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore and Dave Obey backed Obama prior to Tuesday's primary. U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin is backing Clinton.
-- By David M. Drucker
Labels: 2008 spring primary
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