Crack the Bell

MSNBC is reporting that South Carolina superdelegate has announced his support for Barack Obama.  I'll see what I can track down.

While offering no timetable for when he might endorse a candidate in the Democratic nomination fight, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn is making it pretty clear that the nominee ought to be whoever comes away with the most pledged delegates.

Although Clyburn and S.C. Democratic Party Chair Carol Khare held a conference call with media this morning to discuss John McCain's visit to the state later today, most of the questions for Clyburn centered around his thoughts on the presidential race.

Clyburn said his endorsement would come when he and his colleagues in the House leadership, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, decide "...when the time is appropriate."

Clyburn also said that superdelegates must weigh who leads in the popular vote and pledged delegates as well as considering questions of electability as measured by general election surveys and intangibles such as "momentum."

"But leading the pledged delegates should have the most weight," Clyburn says.

Clyburn also reiterated his opinion that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton should "stay on the field" until the end of the primaries and caucuses because he believes the competition has been good for party-building.

"Voters in these upcoming states want to see the candidates, and they ought to have that chance," Clyburn said.

However, Clyburn again warned the candidates against campaigning in a way that "...continues to give fodder to Republicans."

"There's a way to continue the campaign without the acrimony," Clyburn said.

 Asked if South Carolina will be "in play" during the fall campaign, both Clyburn and Fowler pointed to the importance of down-ballot races.

"I don't think [a Democrat carrying the state] is in the cards, but I think I think the state is in-play as far as having a significant impact on local and legislative races," Clyburn said.

Fowler pointed to the quality of congressional challengers the party has for 2008.

"We have some very strong congressional candidates, and as we continue to remind people how John McCain is linked to George Bush, they'll only get stronger," Fowler said.

Amazingly, the SC Senate tonight gave second reading to a bill increasing the state's lowest in the nation cigarette tax by 50 cents. Third reading is expected as a formality on Thursday.

The bill would dedicate $5 million dollars per year to tobacco prevention and cessationn with the rest of the revenue to be divided between Medicaid and a health insurance premium assistance plan.

"Cigarette taxes are an effective way to keep kids from smoking," said Renee Martin of the SC Tobacco Collaborative in an email to her group's supporter. "By increasing the tax by 50 cents, we can prevent more than 35,000 kids from starting to smoke, help more than 18,000 current smokers quit, and save more than $700 million in long-term healthcare
costs."

The following Senators supported the bill:

Alexander
Anderson
Ceips
Cleary
Cromer
Drummond
Elliott
Fair
Ford
Gregory
Hayes
Hutto
Jackson
Knotts
Land
Leatherman
Leventis
Lourie
Malloy
Martin
Matthews
McGill
O'Dell
Patterson
Pinckney
Rankin
Reese
Scott
Setzler
Sheheen
Short
Thomas
Williams

Senators voting against the bill:

Campsen
Courson
Grooms
Hawkins
Massey
McConnell
Peeler
Ritchie
Ryberg
Vaughn
Verdin

The interesting debate this evening isn't between the candidates but between the "experts" on these two networks.

MSNBC - with the exception of token battle axe Rachel Maddow - are seeing nothing but sunshine and roses for the Dems, based, as far as I can tell, on a single bit of reporting from Howard Fineman that the end is near. From this, virtually everyone on the Peacock heard Hillary's speech as a valedictory and the beginning of a graceful exit.

The CNN boys - along with MSNBC's Rachel - still think Hill is rarin' to go.

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First District Congressional candidate Linda Ketner joined Democratic Party and state leaders in Columbia this past weekend to discuss her plan for a new path forward for South Carolina’s 1st district. 

"In response, leaders from across the state have announced their support for her candidacy, and their belief that she is the best person to bring renewed energy and focus to a weakened economy, an education system that’s failing our children, and a war that continues to drain resources from our priorities here at home," said campaign spokesperson Jamie Fontaine.
 
Some quotes released by the Ketner campaign:

"I support Linda Ketner in the upcoming Democratic Primary for Congress in the First Congressional District. Linda has great intelligence and energy, and has bold ideas to get our economy moving again, provide affordable health care, and protect our beautiful coast."

 
“Very few in this state have the record of achievement that Linda Ketner has with the African-American community. She’s always been there for us, now it’s time we are there for her. I enthusiastically endorse Linda Ketner to be the next Congresswoman from the first district of South Carolina.”

 
“I am so glad Linda Ketner is running for Congress, any help she needs, I’ll be there for her.”

 
 “Linda Ketner was, without question, a highlight of Convention weekend. She arrived in Columbia a candidate for Congress; but by the time she left, she was the MVP of the Democratic Party.  Linda is the whole package. Intelligence, impeccable resume, experience, and motivation to never give up on the great people of South Carolina. She will be a REAL workhorse not just for her party, but for everyone.”

 
"I met Linda Ketner for the first time this weekend. Her approachability, background, and new ideas have already convinced me that SHE is what we've been waiting for in South Carolina.  As President of the South Carolina College Democrats, I feel that Linda will represent what is best not only for this generation, but for many generations to come."

 
"Linda Ketner is one of the most thoughtful, hard working people I know, and we are fortunate to have her offer for public service.  She would be a great asset to South Carolina as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives."

North Carolina and Indiana vote today.  Nothing will be settled.  Tomorrow we'll moan that the dragged-out process is helping John McCain.  I campaign to raise funds to cover Puerto Rico.

Barack Obama wiil spend the crucial last weekend before North Carolina and Indiana entirely in the Hoosier State, with wife Michelle dispatched to Fayetteville and Charlotte.

Can Obama close the deal with twin victories on Tuesday?

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I'm unable to cover this weekend's events for medical reasons. Anybody attending that wants to send in a dispatch or two, drop me a line.

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South Carolina Democratic Party officials announced today that U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota will deliver the keynote address for the 2008 SCDP Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

"Senator Klobuchar will be a great addition to this year's Dem Weekend. I know that her fearless spirit will inspire South Carolina Democrats as it has many other Democrats in Minnesota and Washington. She has truly been a trailblazer for women and all Democrats," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler.

This year's JJ Dinner will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 2 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The event is part of the SCDP's annual Dem Weekend, which includes the South Carolina State Democratic Convention.

Fowler said she was very pleased when she learned that Klobuchar accepted the SCDP's invitation to speak at the Party’s signature fundraiser.

"Senator Klobuchar's story is very interesting and shows Democrats what we can achieve in the fall. Her victory over a well-known Republican helped us to recapture the Senate," she said.

Elected in 2006, Klobuchar is the first woman to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. The Yale University graduate has been a champion for strengthening ethics rules in Congress and expanding opportunities for the middle class. She has also worked hard to protect American consumers and promote energy independence in the U.S.  She serves on four committees: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Environment and Public Works; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and the Joint Economic Committee.

On March 30, Sen. Klobuchar endorsed Barack Obama.