Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Romer backs Obama

Rocky Mountain News

Published May 13, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.
Updated May 13, 2008 at 12:55 p.m.

Text size  

Poll

When do you think the Democrats' superdelegates should commit to a candidate?


  • See the results »
Roy Romer and wife, Bea

Photo by Rocky Mountain News

Roy Romer and wife, Bea

More Barack Obama

More stories »

Roy Romer, a former Colorado governor and Democratic National Committee chairman, threw his support behind Sen. Barack Obama today as the presidential candidate who can win Western states and ultimately the White House in November.

"I think Senator Obama offers a very strong leadership based on hope and change that's struck a deep chord in the American hearts and minds," Romer, a key superdelegate, said in a teleconference arranged by the Obama campaign.

"I think the West is ripe for his candidacy," Romer added, noting that the Illinois senator beat Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Colorado caucuses by 67-to-32 percent.

Romer, a longtime Clinton ally and former co-chair of President Bill Clinton's 1996 reelection campaign, stressed that he wasn't trying to force Hillary Clinton out of the marathon primary battle.

"This has been a very vigorous primary and Sen. Clinton has been a very strong and formidable candidate," Romer said, describing her as a personal friend who will continue to be a vital leader and asset for the Democratic Party.

"But the math is controlling," Romer said. "This race, I believe, is over. Sen. Obama has accumulated a lead in delegates chosen in primaries, caucuses and superdelegates that cannot be overcome."

Romer said he chose to make his decision known before Saturday's state Democratic Party convention to prod cohorts as they pick delegates to the national convention in Denver this August.

"A lot of people in the party are ready to close down the primary and get on with the general election," Romer said, adding that he believes "it is the time for the party to unify" behind Obama for the coming battle against Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

"For those of us who are superdelegates, it's important for her to know where we are so that she is not mislead," Romer said of Clinton. "I think all superdelegates would help the party by making (their votes) known as quickly as they can.

"That's not forcing anybody out of the race. That's simply giving them facts that they can then base their own campaign decisions on," he added.

Superdelegates are the Democratic elected officials and party leaders who are free to support whichever candidate they feel has the best chance of winning in November.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe stressed the West's crucial role in the candidate's general election strategy.

"We think Barack Obama has shown a real strength in the Western part of the country and that's going to be integral to us winning the presidency in November," Plouffe said.

"We believe Colorado, a state Governor Romer knows as well as anybody, is going to be, not just a battle ground state, but a state we believe we can win and put in the Obama column in November," he said.

"I think particularly in Western states, Senator Obama is going to provide a terrific electoral climate for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot," he added.

Comments

  • May 13, 2008

    9:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    T1anda writes:

    Who cares?? Maybe Romers wife does! You know the one he cheated on for years while he was Gov of Colorado! LOL!!!!

  • May 13, 2008

    9:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    farsidefan writes:

    Just as B. Owens did for years. The great family values man. He valued family so much, he has two. LOL'er. But who cares ? Right..

  • May 13, 2008

    10:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    airbornebigfoot writes:

    who cares sums it up for most of us.
    isnt Romer the same guy who dropped the 'O' from
    his last name so it wouldnt sound Hispanic?
    (Romero).
    Of course, look at all the good he did for the L.A. Unified School District.......LOL!

  • May 13, 2008

    10:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    T1anda writes:

    Farsidefan, has B. Owens endorsed Obama also?? If he has I hadn't heard. Owens was just as bad as Romer-o!! LOL!!

  • May 13, 2008

    10:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mlbdenver writes:

    It is not made clear in the article, but Romer is a superdelegate. THAT is why we should care.

  • May 13, 2008

    10:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverDan writes:

    Correct choice. Good JOB Romer.......

  • May 13, 2008

    11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    Big D, I think that Sasq could probably care less about the debt. Ill health and won't be around much longer.

  • May 13, 2008

    11:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HumanBeans writes:

    Just say no to Obama and his typical white Grandmama!

  • May 13, 2008

    12:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jay writes:

    concern troll...love it

  • May 13, 2008

    12:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jay writes:

    concern troll...love it

  • May 13, 2008

    12:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverDan writes:

    Why is it only weird white men listen to A.M. radio?

  • May 13, 2008

    1:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Marshdale writes:

    Once again Sasquatch is fooled by right wing rhetoric. Gobble gobble. Swallow the whole pill.

  • May 13, 2008

    2:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LingLingfor_prez writes:

    This would be great, if I was a lemming. Who cares!!!

  • May 13, 2008

    3:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HSTOWEL writes:

    Yea for sure I'm jumping on the Obama bandwagon. NOT! Let me see, regarding just the good Reverend Wright and his association here are the possibilities I see:

    1) He didn't hear or know about any of these sermons or his pastor's racist point of views. If this is really true then he is far too naive to be President however the evidence indicates that his initial statements regarding this were lies.

    2) He heard about the statements and was aware of some of his views but could not discard his crazy uncle anymore than he could discard his "white grandmother" (who is also typical). Most likely he wanted to be at this church for political reasons however if he sat there for twenty years listening to this for political gain then he is immoral and lacks the courage to do the right thing. Once again we don't need him as President.

    3) He not only heard the sermons and was fully aware of his pastor's point of view but he fully endorsed them. If this were true once again we don't need him as President.

    I suspect it's a combination of both #2 and #3 with more weight on #2. He has other associations that are also suspect including his wife. There are many people who would like to see a minority elected to the Presidency but surely not this guy. He's a fraud and it's going to continue to spill out until November.

  • May 13, 2008

    4:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverDan writes:

    HSTOWEL Did you vote for bush twice? Do you even go to church?
    does eveything your pastor stands for, you do too. Stay away from fox news. You dont want to know what my pastor said about gas prices. Pins on coats, pastors inc, have what to do with being a president? You people on the right dont talk about the real issues because then that would mean Bush would be brought up. So stick to the real things that matter like pins on a coat..

  • May 13, 2008

    4:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    farsidefan writes:

    HS, let's see...McCain's minister is Hagee right ? Hagee of the trashing of the Catholic faith. Oh wait, he apologized. I guess he didn't mean any of those things. Of course, this was after meeting with 22 religious zealots in D.C. who straightened him out. Didn't want to disenfranchise the Catholic voting block.
    Both ministers spew hate. How Christian huh ?

  • May 13, 2008

    4:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverDan writes:

    SAY no to "old" BUSH 3. Go Obama.

  • May 13, 2008

    7:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nonayerbsns writes:

    Romer is a schmuck. We need not listen to these people saying that the 'delegates' have spoken. They haven't. Furthermore, the delegates should be dismissed.