I find it very peculiar that the most prestigous Southern Democrats refuse to endorse Barack Obama. James Clyburn, nope, Jimmy Carter, nope, John Edwards, nope, Al Gore, nope, Evan Bayh, nope, Blanche Lincholn, nope, Mark Pryor, nope, Alcee Hastings, nope, Bill Nelson, nope.

However, all of the top Northern Democrats seem to have no problem in doing so. Patrick Leahy, check, Chris Dodd, check, John Kerry, check, Edward Kennedy, check, Bob Casey, check!


I see the battle of North VS South still persists, atleast when it comes to high profile endorsements. He can't even get the elite Black Southern Democrats to endorse him. Very strange indeed.

Why should they?

Because he's a highly questionable character with a past about as clear as mud?

I only meant that there are two qualified candidates running.

He hasn't promised them as much as he has the Northern ones. ;)

Edwards is probably bitter at Obama and Hillary.

I read somewhere that Al Gore intends to remain neutral so that whoever the nominee is he has a good working relationship with once they are in office. I'm not sure if that was just the author's speculation though.

Carter had high praise for Obama, iirc.

Because he's a highly questionable character with a past about as clear as mud?

Apparently, only the Southern cowboys got that memo.

Yeehaw!

(Maybe it's because he has black skin?)

(Maybe it's because he has black skin?)

Or because he really hasn't done anything worthwhile since he has been a senator for a few years. :shrug:

Former Presidents rarely endorse anyone. Clinton is understandably the exception.

Lots of southern democrats have endorsed Obama and lots on northern ones have endorsed Clinton. You are just cherry picking names.

Or because he really hasn't done anything worthwhile since he has been a senator for a few years. Problem with the Senate - you don't get to do much, on your own. It's not an executvie job.

Obama's accomplishments outweigh Hillary's despite obviously fewer advantages, and McCain's (spread out over several more years and with the advantage of seniority and majority Party status) are more or less negative in net effect.

Soo - - - southern Dems may just not like Obama's northern roots and elitist education, or may notice that southern whites (a much more reliable constituency than southern blacks) seem unhappy with him, or may just consider him a lost cause (given what they know of their hometown voters' attitudes toward blacks) and want to stay away from a probable loser.

Soo - - - southern Dems may just not like Obama's northern roots and elitist education.

That's probably the most likely reason. I know both Black and White Southerners despise the Ivy League elitists.

Gore is an Ivy League elitist, isn't he?

Gore is an Ivy League elitist, isn't he?

But he's a native of Tennessee, so he has deep Southern roots. However, he did fail to carry his own state in 2000.

(Maybe it's because he has black skin?)

Or because he's a total cipher?

At least he was "present". That counts for something, dunnit?