Thu
Aug 28 2008
09:08 am
By: R. Neal

DSC_5235

In case you missed the photo above, the final Tennessee tally was Obama 51 v. Clinton 32. If I'm not mistaken, this means two delegates did not vote. Also if I'm not mistaken, Clinton came out of the primary with 40 pledged district delegates. This means only eight delegates changed their vote.

Every Clinton delegate I spoke to said they would vote for Clinton because that's what voters in their district elected them to do, but they would support Obama in the general election.

There have been reports in the Knoxville paper that there is some kind of state law requiring pledged delegates to vote for their pledged candidates. There is no such DNC party rule, and TNDP Chair Gray Sasser said all delegates were free to vote for whoever they wanted. I asked around about the alleged state law, and nobody seems to know anything about it.

At any rate, it would seem odd to me that the Tennessee Legislature can dictate party business at that level. But maybe they do -- it's not like I sit around studying case law on party nominations. (UPDATE: See comments, there is apparently a state law.)

The bottom line is that Obama won the nomination with an overwhelming majority. It was 61% to 39% in Tennessee (as compared to 59% to 41% for Clinton coming out of the primary), and I'm sure the overall margin will be wider than that once the final "votes" are released.

The Knoxville paper seems to be creating controversy about some kind of "huge divide" in the party over the nomination. All I have seen are some disappointed Clinton supporters who have moved on and a delegation nearly 100% committed to electing Obama. People this involved at this level in the process are hard core Democrats. They are going to vote for the Democrat.

Feelings among the general population of voters may, of course, vary. The media seems to do a fine job of finding the few dissenters and making it all about the controversy.

Sean_Braisted's picture

2-13-317

The results of the preferential presidential primary shall be binding on the delegates to the national conventions as provided in this section. The delegates to the national conventions shall be bound by the results of the preferential presidential primary for the first two (2) ballots and shall vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged as provided in § 2-13-307. The delegates shall thereafter be bound to support such candidate so long as the candidate, not to exceed two (2) ballots, has twenty percent (20%) of the total convention vote or until such time the candidate of their party releases them from the results of the presidential preference primary.

Anonymous's picture

Seems to me Senator Clinton

Seems to me Senator Clinton released her delegates making it perfectly clear last night that Senator Obama was her nominee. The way I saw it on MSNBC TN was never called upon becasue ILat yeilded to NY which stopped the roll call and then Nancy Palozi called it. Why would Tn still have that many votes for Senator Clinton.

bill young's picture

Oregon

oregon had the same thing going on
its at clintondems.com

tennesseevaluesauthority's picture

I would think this part is

I would think this part is key...

or until such time the candidate of their party releases them from the results of the presidential preference primary.

Anonymous's picture

What is with Bredesen????

Please tell me why our Gov. is so out of the loop? Is he willing just to turn TN over to the other party?
-Obama supports responsible gun ownership as a result of his deep study of Constitutional Law.
- Obama supports clean rivers and lakes for sportsmen.
- Obama does not believe the freedom of choice for women should be legislated.
- Obama supports benefits for our veterans.
- Obama supports equal pay for equal work.

Anonymous's picture

Hillary Delegates broke the law

The Tennessee Hillary Delegates voted before 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. We had not been released. We were told we had until 3:00 p.m. (MDT) to change our votes. Hillary met with all her delegates and announced quite a while AFTER 3:00 p.m. (MDT) that she was releasing her delegates. Thus, all TN Hillary delegates who voted against her violated TCA Sec. 2-13-307.

A Tennessee Hillary delegate.

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