Meek and Wasserman Schultz: "Clinton best for top of ticket"

Hillary Clinton's campaign is touting a letter signed by more than a dozen swing state congressional Clinton backers that argues Clinton is best prepared to take on John McCain in November. The letter is addressed to their peers, aimed particularly at the influential superdelegates.

Signees include South Florida Reps. Kendrick Meek and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"The decision about who to support to be our Party’s nominee is not one that any of us should take lightly. We haven’t," the letter states. "But, after giving this important decision a great deal of thought, we are convinced that Hillary Clinton has the vision, skills and commitment to make the changes our country needs. As Democrats who have run and won in competitive Congressional districts and battleground states, we believe that Hillary is best positioned to successfully lead the Democratic ticket in districts and states like ours around the country.

"...Hillary has shown she can win the all-important battleground states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida even while being outspent. This speaks to her ability to connect with voters we must deliver in the fall, including blue collar Democrats who can sway this election as they have in the past."

Full text here:

Dear Fellow Democrat,

We are writing to you because of our shared belief in our Party’s principles and our commitment to ensuring that we have the strongest possible nominee to lead our ticket against John McCain and the Republicans in November.

The decision about who to support to be our Party’s nominee is not one that any of us should take lightly. We haven’t. But, after giving this important decision a great deal of thought, we are convinced that Hillary Clinton has the vision, skills and commitment to make the changes our country needs. As Democrats who have run and won in competitive Congressional districts and battleground states, we believe that Hillary is best positioned to successfully lead the Democratic ticket in districts and states like ours around the country.

As you know, Hillary has racked up victories in bellwether states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and now Indiana that are absolutely vital to winning the White House and maintaining our Congressional majority in the fall. Hillary has won the big battleground states by connecting with voters whose support we must have to win the general election. Her victories in Pennsylvania and Indiana were all the more impressive after being outspent by as much as two or three to one.

Pennsylvania was not just a victory for Hillary Clinton. It was also a wake- up call for superdelegates, forcing us to ask ourselves two essential questions: 1) Which candidate can carry the magic 270 electoral votes to win in the fall? 2) Which candidate is most likely to help our fellow Democrats in down-ballot races? We believe the answer to both of these questions is Hillary Clinton.

On the first question, Hillary has shown she can win the all-important battleground states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida even while being outspent. This speaks to her ability to connect with voters we must deliver in the fall, including blue collar Democrats who can sway this election as they have in the past.

On the second question, Hillary has won rural and suburban districts which we as Democrats must carry to maintain our edge in Congress. Of the fifteen districts rated “toss up” by the Cook Political Report, Hillary has now won ten. Of the 20 districts we picked up in 2006 that had gone for President Bush just two years before, Hillary has now won 16. She is strong in the places we must win to hold and expand our majority.

This is a historically close race. The candidates are separated by a mere percentage point or two and the path to victory for each candidate is the same: win in the upcoming states and secure enough pledged and automatic delegates to get to the number required to win the nomination.

The race now turns to the remaining six contests where the focus will be squarely on the economy. Voters in our states and across the country are voting on issues that affect them, their communities and their children’s future. We believe that they will decide that Hillary is the candidate who best understands those issues and has the best solutions to address them.

We Democrats are justifiably proud of both of our candidates, and if Senator Obama is our Party’s nominee, we will enthusiastically support him. But our responsibility is not to choose simply to support the eventual nominee; it is to help select the nominee who is best for our party and best for our country. Our choice is clear: Hillary Clinton is that candidate. We believe she should be your choice as well.

Thank you for consideration.

Sincerely,

Rep. Michael Arcuri (NY-24),Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV-01),Rep. Marion Berry (AR-1),Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28),Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20),Rep. Gene Green (TX -29), Rep. John Hall (NY-19), Rep. Darlene Hooley (OR-5), Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (FL-17),Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11), Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX-16), Rep. Mike Ross (AR-4),Rep. Joe Sestak (PA-8), Rep. Ike Skelton (MO-4), Rep. John Tanner (TN-8) Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20)

Comments

Thank you for playing. Please pick up your consolation at the door as you leave.

I'm sorry -- what?

Wasserman-Schultz and Meek have some of the most Democratic districts in the country. Competitive? Sure, if you like fighting fellow Democrats... which they didn't really even have to do.

Two of the biggest losers and phoneys in congress.

[I Honk for Experience]

I agree!!! And, kudos to those members of congress for being loyalty. Its honorable!!!

[Noneya Biz]

Facts are Facts...

No Democrat can win the White House without Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Hillary can win all the... Obama can win none!

[linda peterson]

Florida had it right. If some of the earlier states could revote Obama would have far less popular votes. We need a President who knows and has experienced bad economy, low dollar, low opinion with the rest of the world. A spiritual leader we do not need! Our country is at a pivotal point and could take a sharp nosedive with poor leadership. Obama is poor leadership, with no experience. If Hillary doesn't get the nomination, I and my family will vote for McCain and by the way, there is not one word of this post that is based on his color.

[RicJohn]

Can some intelligent person please tell all the braindead TV talking heads and uninformed voters that a primary win DOES NOT correlate into a general election victory. It might boost up a candidate, but it doesn't guarantee anything. Do you really think Independents and Republicans in Florida are going to support Hillary Clinton? She may have fooled some "working class" (Isn't everyone working class to an extent anyway?) voters in the primaries, but that is not enough to win an election. Democrats have to stop trying to run the table and hope for Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Florida. Obama is competitive in all three states, although citing an April or May poll for any candidate is ridiculous. Things can change in a few hours, and the election is being held in November, so a poll from two days ago will hold little sway months from now. Obama is competitive in states like Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Indiana--all states that Hillary Clinton has little appeal in.

With consistant negatives at or above 50% for the past few years, Hillary Clinton will not be winning many major swing states, especially once the GOP attack machine is out in full force. Did people really forget how much baggage she has? Is she really the best Democrats can do? Don't sleep on Senator Obama...people actually trust him and believe what he is saying, plus he is more level-headed and rational.

[Vince]

I have to admit, I enjoy watching Wasserman & Meek play the South Florida Wonder-Twins as they debate strawmen meanie Republicans on C-SPAN in front of an empty House Chamber as much as the next guy, but the forthcoming Democratic Nominee showdown at the Denver Thunderdome is poised to put that trainwreck to shame. Pass the Popcorn!

[RicJohn]

Oh, and by the way, if anyone has poor leadership it is Hillary Clinton. What has she done in the Senate? What major legislation has she passed? Where is this so-called experience that makes her more qualified than Senator Obama? Sorry, but being First Lady is not experience. Her health care plan imploded in 1994 and it cost us 12 years of a Republican House majority. Do we really want that type of "leadership"? I don't think so. Obama has had success working with leaders from both parties to pass meaningful legislation affecting ethics, nuclear proliferation, anti-crime efforts, government transparency, and health care. He has a real record and is actually likeable and doesn't dismiss the votes of people who didn't vote for him. Hillary Clinton said yesterday that the only hardworking Americans were white and working class. I guess minorities are worthless to her now that they aren't part of her "broad coalition". She can play identity politics all she wants, but if she becomes the nominee, sensible Obama supporters will not waste their vote on her, and she will lose.

[A Dem.]

Any ticket combining Clinton and Obama will make a brokered convention (no split ticket) look like childs play.

1). Clinton at the top of the ticket. Certain supporters of Barack Obama will cry racism out of the belief that he got a raw deal, because he didn't come out on top

2). Obama at the top the ticket. Certain supporters of Hillary Clinton will cry sexism out of the belief that she got a raw deal, because she didn't come out on top of the ticket.

The infighting from sexism/racism claims will destroy the party faster than having one nominee.

[A Dem.]

What the representatives are basically proposing is to override the will of the people, that more than anything will cause serious damage to the party.

The media likes to talk about African-Americans and young people being alienated , that's only the beginning. You override the will of the people--out of the belief that Hillary is owed the presidency, or whatever--then you are going to see a lot fewer Democrats, no not just young people and African-Americans, as people will question why both voting Democrat if the party will override their decision anyway.

[JO]

Senator Clinton and Bill Clinton have shown that they have a lot of personal problems.
The american people have impeached impeached Bill Clinton in the house.

After Bill Clinton was impeached in the house for, it would be a slap in the face of all American to put those clintons back in the white house. They are a disgrace to america and contries all over the world.

Why would all the foreign countries and some American companies pay Bill Clinton thousands of dollars for them? The Clinton owe a lot of favors to a lot of big business.

20 million dollars to pay for a campign out of Clinton own pockets speaks volumn about how much money the Clintons have and they think they can buy themselves back in the white house.

Senator clinton should give that money to the poor people in New York.

Jo

[cass harrison]

losers are always a major part of a scrap heap.Hillary is now a Curiosity rather than an attraction.j,

[Mary]

Wow finally two Democrats with some brains.
About time...can you let Wexler know he is ruining not just his district but the rate his is going maybe our country and Israel..What he thinks he will be an liason to Israel? He thinks he is the leader of the Jewish people? If so he would have led by endorsing Clinton.

He needs to get out of office and back into the classroom and learn a bit. Like Obama he is out of touch and out for himself.

He is so predictable and what about using the American people again by trying to impeach when he knew he could not and that he wanted emails for his re-election campaign.

We are not DUMB

[Parky]

Simple thank you to both Congressman and woman.
Where we need change,hope and experience, you are the only ones in congress that are showing it. DEBBIE FOR SENATE!

[Tania]

Vince,

Listen instead of talking or writing. She did not say that. Next thing you know you will say Obama is not antisemetic, racist, anti-american. Make the connection:

Anderson;Ring;Wexler;Obama;

Ending racism is not what Obama has shown;
You are kidding yourself if you think otherwise
Racism is not what Clinton has shown;
What you are saying simply is, you can address the issue and must but not voting for an African American who supports hate.

Just because you are black, a women or jewish does not mean you stand up for your own kind even though we want to think that.

Obama no
Wexler no
Rice double no

Please think before you write