adn.com | Alaska Politics : AK Superdelegates back Obama

Alaska Politics

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier may never have been more interesting than right now -- the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, a popular governor, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.

Contributors

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins writes about Anchorage city government and politics. He covered last year's campaign for governor, and has blogged extensively about Alaska politics for the past year. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the Daily News before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune two years ago to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Now he's back in Anchorage. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau this summer, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

AK Superdelegates back Obama

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: May 19, 2008 - 1:09 pm

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

The last two uncommitted Alaska Democratic Party superdelegates are off the fence and going for Barack Obama.

Cindy Spanyers of Juneau and Blake Johnson of Kenai announced their choice today.

Superdelegate John Davies of Fairbanks earlier sided with Obama. That leaves state Democratic Party chair Patti Higgins the only Alaska superdelegate backing Hillary Clinton.

So the Alaska superdelegate split will end up proportional to the February Alaska caucuses, where Obama got about 75 percent of the Democratic vote.

I'll ask Spanyers and Johnson why they ended up announcing now for Obama.

UPDATE -- The state Democratic Party just emailed something out. It included this bit about Obama maybe making a brief campaign stop in Alaska:

The Barack Obama campaign has pledged to send Senator Obama to Alaska this fall for a brief stop, if possible, as well as a longer follow-up visit to the state after the November elections, Spanyers and Johnson said.

(SECOND UPDATE) -- I spoke to Spanyers and Johnson this afternoon about their decision.

“In the end I felt Senator Barack Obama really touched the soul of Alaskans,” Spanyers said.

Johnson said there wasn’t any single major factor that made him commit to Obama Monday. But he said one reason is talks he had with Pete Rouse, who is Obama’s chief of staff in the U.S. Senate.

Rouse lived in Alaska for four years in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He was chief of staff for then-Alaska Lt. Gov. Terry Miller.

login or register to post comments

33 May 24, 2008 - 9:14am | bmcdaniel9

Fortunately

The three may switch to Hillary all the way to the convention.

32 May 21, 2008 - 12:44am | Stumpy1

1964

1964 was the last year that Alaska gave its three votes to a Democrat; Johnson.

Sympathy for the dead president Kennedy.

In 2008 Alaska will give its 3 votes to a Republican.

Even a bad one like McCain.

Democrats should never give up, but they should be at least more realistic about their chances.

Their votes don't matter in a presidential election here.

Honestly. In a state that keeps reelecting Don Young?

31 May 19, 2008 - 11:49pm | akuzilvak

Say it aint so.

29 May 19, 2008 - 9:50pm | steve1

Mr Obama

I am supporting only Obama becouse he is the best one who can lead us through this dark nightmare Bush put us in A unholy war with our muslim brothers. The United States Army killing women and children and old men in Iraq just becouse they are muslim. This is my rant and its some thing I can say and fell ok it's my right dhu

28 May 19, 2008 - 9:43pm | steve1

Obama

Ok here it is Mr Obama is a very good man and will be a better world leader than Mc Clown oh wait its Mc Cain or is it really Mc Clown. And it's Muslim not Moslim learn to spell ok. Islam is great and the muslims are great people. Its Mc Clown that has more to do with Hitler than Mr Obama. Mr Obama cares for all the people not only the rich white folk. A vote for Mc Clown is a vote for Bush third term and the 100 year war in Iraq that Mc Clown so baddly wants.

27 May 19, 2008 - 8:40pm | theresaphilbrick

Obama for President? Yes!

I voted for Bush in the last election. What a mistake that was. I am looking forward to casting my vote for B. Obama. I am a middle aged white woman with a middle class income. I work hard, pay my taxes, and believe that the time has come for someone different to lead this country. Obama represents the diversity of our country. He is biracial, as many of our citizenry are, and he has the temerity to present bold new ideas.

25 May 19, 2008 - 7:20pm | jajones

Trinity United Church of

Trinity United Church of Christ

Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the 'Trinity United Church of Christ'.

It is very alarming. Barack Obama is a member of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at the first page of their Web site, you will learn that this congregation has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is America even mentioned. Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to join Obama's church? Does this surprise anyone?

Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his Muslim upbringing. This guy wants to rule America while his loyalty is totally vested in a black Africa !

May 19, 2008 - 8:25pm | funkalunatic

IMO a president being committed to Africa is a positive thing

Don't believe the hype. jajones will be surprised to learn that white people attend Obama's church. That fact probably throws his or her entire worldview upside-down.

24 May 19, 2008 - 6:29pm | peduncle

Stupid

We must be complete idiots to vote for this guy. What is he running on? Change. Ok what is the change. HE NEVER SAYS WHAT IT IS!!!

May 19, 2008 - 11:15pm | akimage

Obambas Change

Reperations for inner-city Blacks although 50 billion have been spend for welfare and other lib dependency programs since the 50's and the same proportion of folk are as poor as ever in the Getto.
Millions of Blacks have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps to the "east side" into the middle class, but Obama, Wright, Jackson. Sharpton and the Rap music industry and others make a business out of pimpin' the poor and the propgandized angry.

May 19, 2008 - 8:29pm | funkalunatic

Have you listened to anything longer than a Fox News soundbite?

The fundamental change Obama refers to is change in the way politics is conducted in the US - specifically: accountability from representatives and engagement of the citizenry - and that this is a pathway to progressive policy change that represents the will of the people. He says this in EVERY SINGLE SPEECH he makes.

23 May 19, 2008 - 6:22pm | jajones

Obama is currently displayed

Obama is currently displayed as banner boy on the Project Islamic Hope site. Some of the founders of this organization have been indicted for terrorist support.
http://islamichope.org/

May 19, 2008 - 8:30pm | funkalunatic

I don't see Obama in the banner

I do see AHNOLD!

May 19, 2008 - 9:46pm | Cartman3_15

Isn't Arnold a Republican?

Yeah. Thought so.

22 May 19, 2008 - 6:19pm | jajones

Obama's ties to 'slumlord'

Obama's ties to 'slumlord' Tony Rezko
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/353829,CST-NWS-rez23.article

Obama's ties to Palestinians and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/
2007/03/obamas_pastor_admits_concerns.php

Are you aware Raila Odinga, a Muslim radical involved in the disputed Kenya election is Obama's cousin and that he has kept in close contact with him and supported him? Are you aware that in August 2006, Mr. Obama visited Kenya and spoke in support of Mr. Odinga's candidacy at rallies in Nairobi?

Mr. Odinga has an electoral pact with the National Muslim Leaders' Forum — a hardline Islamist organization that represents Kenya's Muslim minority. According to this document, dated August 29, 2007, Mr. Odinga promised the Muslim leaders that, if elected, he would establish Sharia courts, not only in the northern and coastal regions where Kenyan Muslims are concentrated, but throughout the country.
He also promised to impose Muslim dress codes on women, ban alcohol and pork, indoctrinate children, ban Christian preaching.
Odinga is reported to be behind such atrocities as the burning of a Christian church with 50 people inside.

May 19, 2008 - 6:29pm | blatzrox

JaJones......

Thanks for putting out the info: God help us if this radical, anti-American empty suit gets to be President. Keep putting out this info everywhere you can!! A lot of people don't know what they're voting for, because a large majority of these voters are black & college kids. They think he's the newest fad. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE. GIVE ME COLIN POWELL!!

May 19, 2008 - 8:47pm | funkalunatic

Newest Fad?

Or maybe his supporters are just literate enough to read his platform and realize that his ideas are actually quite substantive and intelligent.

Colin Powell's a patsy.

White Trash for McCain in '08!

May 19, 2008 - 10:15pm | jabrusii

and if you watch some videos

and if you watch some videos with chronology - john mccain is a gnarley flip-flopper with loads of misinformation. don't take my word for it, google, youtube, etc. Obama is all that's left. Media gives no air to Ron Paul- or even Bob Barr who'll joyously take votes from mccain- good news all around.

21 May 19, 2008 - 6:16pm | jajones

His message is loud and clear

Quote from Barack Obama's book, Dreams Of My Father:
"The person who made me proudest of all, though, was [half brother] Roy .. He converted to Islam."

From 'Dreams of my Father', "In Indonesia, I had spent two years at a Muslim school"
"I studied the Koran.."

From 'Audacity of Hope: "Lolo (Obama's step father) followed a brand of Islam ...."I looked to Lolo for guidance".

From 'The Audacity Of Hope, "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

From The Audacity Of Hope, "We are no longer just a Christian nation," "We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers."

From Dreams of My Father, " I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER'S RACE".

From 'Dreams of my Father', "The emotion between the races could never be pure..... the other race would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart."

From 'Dreams of My Father',
"I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites"

From Dreams Of My Father, "never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa, that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself..".

From Dreams Of My Father:
"That hate hadn't gone away," he wrote, blaming "white people — some cruel, some ignorant, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives."

From Dreams Of My Father;
"There were enough of us on campus to constitute a tribe, and when it came to hanging out many of us chose to function like a tribe, staying close together, traveling in packs," he wrote. "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on,to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names"

From Dreams Of My Father, "I had grown accustomed, everywhere, to suspicions between the races."

19 May 19, 2008 - 6:07pm | Glory_to_God

No matter the democrat,

they all seem to fall into the anti-christian category. Reference: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

May 19, 2008 - 10:29pm | odregelid

Glory to God ?

Why do all your posts quote the bible and your hatred of Democrats? and Glory to God name?
Isnt your attitude exactly what you say is wrong?

May 19, 2008 - 10:25pm | jabrusii

and

just cause bush says he's Christian- it's okay to war? -

in case you missed it- we don't live in a Christian nation- our constitution still means something....for now- so until then we have freedom of religion..... how bout them vikings?

May 19, 2008 - 6:39pm | wutskaan

Sounds like a description of Bush exactly, thanks.

Were turning away as fast as we can.;)

18 May 19, 2008 - 5:41pm | grant2

Man, why would Anchorage

Man, why would Anchorage wana become a "West Coast Community" ? We are Alaska and don't need to be like Seattle, San Fran or La. We are us and were us before you got here, leave us alone !!!!

May 19, 2008 - 6:18pm | rfn

Too late!

It's already Seattle-North. Has been for years and years.

Now, depending on who gets elected to what, it's on the verge of becoming 'Frisco-North. At least there'll be more revenue from marriage licenses when that happens. Of course it won't reduce property taxes. The good news in that is that we'd get to skip the "Portland-North" step.

17 May 19, 2008 - 5:13pm | grant2

I have a good tax policy,

I have a good tax policy, wipe them all out. Let everyone take care of, fixing the road in front of their house, teaching their kids, looking out for their safety, forming a bucket line and responding to a fire next door, haul their trash someplace. I would eliminate most of the military, some I would keep for my forgine policy, just put them all on the unemployment rolls (Opps, I forgot there wouldn't be any unemployment comp. or food stamps).
The military I would keep about 15 B52 crews. I would pick a country (maybe have a web poll right here :)) and nuke it then say "Ok,anyone else wana mess with us ?, there are birds in the air and we can be there real soon".
Idealistic, but I can dream :)
In 98% of the countries in the world "You don't work (farm) you don't live"
In 65% of the countries in the world you wouldn't be able to read a paper like ADN.
In 95% of the countries in the world a blog like this would be shut down and the bloggers tracked down and arrested, and probably disappear.
If we stick together we will survive, sure this election doesn't hold much hope but if you vote for McCain, Clinton, Obama or Jorgenson we do have the choice (that most counties don't) to change it in 4 years.

May 19, 2008 - 6:06pm | tincancheif

Whoooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Some one with a heartbeat and brain....teeeheeeeing.lol

15 May 19, 2008 - 4:55pm | s_thyng

Does it matter who wins the election?

No. Circumstances far beyond the control of any President are going to control the future course of this country. In the future, we should all keep in mind the advice, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for yourself." There are schools, police, welfare agencies of all kinds, etc just waiting to "help" you. But what are you doing to help yourself?

14 May 19, 2008 - 4:28pm | grant2

Think I am going to change

Think I am going to change my name to Non Of The Above, run a few ads in the Free Little Nickel paper and I can be president.

May 19, 2008 - 11:00pm | STOP_with_the_damn_REGISTRATIONS

Good luck with that.

Your brilliance is revealed by your ability to spell a simple four letter word.

13 May 19, 2008 - 4:13pm | littlewicky

my biggest fear isn't

that he wins, it's the thought that the Homey will go into in hostile country for a cup of java and to "talk" as his inexperience states. My fear is that they will grab him like they did the hostages in Iran and held them for 444 days. I don't care if they grab him or even if they keep him; but we are talking about a president of the united states (who should never be elected) and the only result is that we as a country would have to go into that hostile country to get his dumb a$$ out and we would be forced to use nuclear power in a region that is ripe with countries that are well into the Nuclear age of missles. WWW3

May 19, 2008 - 6:29pm | STOP_with_the_damn_REGISTRATIONS

too funny

No POTUS has been loathed more across the world than Bush Jr.. If somebody was gonna grab for a US President, Bush would've walked into that tar by now.

12 May 19, 2008 - 4:11pm | Blackamerican

It matters who wins.............

Obama and McOld are very different. McOld will allow war for 100 years (his age, lol!!!) if he could, Obama will pull out very soon and save our children BILLIONS of dollars, and American families the agony of losing a loved one for a lost cause. Big difference to me. And somebody define victory in Iraq..........

11 May 19, 2008 - 4:07pm | drauchenstein

None of the above

Can't we all just vote: None of the above, and gov't would go on hold for 12 months?

10 May 19, 2008 - 4:06pm | patrickhawkins

Obama

The same questuin that Former President Regan asked should be asked now. Are you better off now than you were 7 years ago? The answer is quite obvious, gas here on the kenai is now $4.34 a gallon, food prices are up, the dollar is at an all time low, there were no weapons of mass deception, excuse me, weapons of mass destruction. wages of workers have stagnated, we have had a foreign policy that has not worked and we are in a war that has lasted longer than world war II, and a health care situation that is not being addressed, and people dying because they can not afford health care. So if you like this Vote John McCain, but if you want a different direction ,Vote Obama

May 19, 2008 - 4:41pm | hugh

Don't talk with your mouth full!

Fact is that we Americans are better off now than ever. Instead of acting like you are entitled, take responsibility for yourself, get an education, get a job, pay taxes, and most important, get a life!!!!
There are 200 other countries on this globe. You are free to leave, nobody is holding you back. I've been to many of those places, and you know what? I wouldn't trade this place for any of them. BTW, $4 per gallon of gas is less than HALF what citizens in other developed countries pay.

May 19, 2008 - 4:09pm | drauchenstein

People are dying?

People are dying because they can't aford health care? That's just not true at all.

9 May 19, 2008 - 4:03pm | hpabjc8

Boy, no kidding.

Hope, responsible government, rehabilitation of our reputation in the world - somebody better stop this guy!

8 May 19, 2008 - 3:51pm | arctos

At this point

it doesn't matter who wins. We're screwed.

7 May 19, 2008 - 3:41pm | jajones

Below are a few lines from Obama's books " his words.

From Audacity of Hope: "I will stand with the Muslims should the political
winds shift in an ugly direction."

May 19, 2008 - 5:14pm | andyaudap

What page?

Come on, let's have it...

May 19, 2008 - 6:13pm | jajones

Page 261

May 19, 2008 - 4:05pm | hpabjc8

So what?

Do you remember the "Not In Our Town" movement that formed to oppose retribution against muslims in our community after 9/11? I'm glad to hear that Sen. Obama has the same attitude.

May 19, 2008 - 3:59pm | andyaudap

What page?

I've read that book and there's nothing in it to suggest he'd side with Muslim over his Christian faith.

6 May 19, 2008 - 3:37pm | freefromfear

Here we go....

And this election year is the beginning of a four year reign of, "What the hell happened to America"!!! As far as I am concerned, I do not trust a thing that comes from the lips of any of the three potential morons who will be running this country for the next few years. I guess it really is coming down to your choice of the less of three evils, even though, all three evils so to parallel eachother. Maybe nows a good time to move to Antarctica?

May 19, 2008 - 8:42pm | funkalunatic

"What the hell hapened to America"??

Don't look now, but it already happened, like 7 years ago.

5 May 19, 2008 - 3:35pm | chillsnowman

pay attention super delegates

Well I liked how Cbama described what caused the depression back in the late 20's and early 30's....lol He was telling the young people to start taking money out of the banks!! Yeah lets start doing that and cause a panic... He doesn't know what is going on. I just wish the super delegates would pay attention. I will vote democratic regardless, I just have to voice my opinion... Thanks ADN.com

4 May 19, 2008 - 3:15pm | jbarnard

great news

This is great news. The wingers are already in whine mode and the election hasn't even happened yet.

3 May 19, 2008 - 3:15pm | just_a_note

Is Alaska the 58th or 59th state?

Obama wasn't too clear on that point when he said he had already visited 57 states....

2 May 19, 2008 - 2:50pm | HD

Four sorry years ahead

May I vote for "None of the Above?" McCain is a dingbat militarist, Clinton is a political mafiosa, and Obama is a social and political chameleon. As the future unfolds, we can be sure of only these things: greater public debt and eventual (not too long, now) national bankruptcy, a debauched currency, foreign policy defeats, higher taxes, a lower standard of living for the great majority of our children, more racial and ethnic tensions, and a menacing China. See ya on election day. Cheers!

Search Jobs | Place an employment ad

Alaska Politics

Contributors

Archive

AK Superdelegates back Obama