By Joe Hadsall and Roger McKinney
news@joplinglobe.com
Doug Brooks will be involved in determining the next Democratic presidential nominee.
The Joplin psychologist is one of five Missouri members of the Democratic National Committee who have been named as superdelegates in the presidential campaign. The other 11 Missouri superdelegates are active and retired members of Congress and the Democratic Party.
“It is an exciting time,” said Brooks, who has given his endorsement to Sen. Hillary Clinton. “I believe she is the person best prepared to deal with the situation we find ourselves in the world.”
Randy Roy, a Kansas member of the Democratic National Committee, said she chose to support Sen. Barack Obama. Obama’s appeal to young people and the way he has conducted his campaign were the deciding factors for Roy.
Ivan Holmes, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said seven of Oklahoma’s nine superdelegates are undecided. And they all are going to get special attention from the candidates, he said.
“Clinton’s campaign figured out a couple of weeks ago that this might happen,” Holmes said. “So she’s been after it pretty hard. And we’ve had calls from Obama’s people, too.”
Not everyone is looking forward to the attention. Larry Gates, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party, said he has told the campaigns that he doesn’t want to be lobbied, and they have complied “for the most part.” He said he will remain neutral until after the state convention on May 17.
Gates said he would consider who won the state caucuses, which indicates a lean toward Obama.
“I don’t think that’s the final answer, but I’m persuaded that’s part of the equation,” Gates said.
He said he also would consider who is most electable.
“They’re both terrific candidates,” he said. “They’re both well qualified.”
Missouri’s regular delegates to the national convention are evenly split at 36 for each candidate. So are Missouri’s superdelegates: Four of the 16 have thrown their support behind Obama, and four have endorsed Clinton.
Two of the Missouri superdelegates are in leadership positions with the state Democratic Party, which has a policy of neutrality among Democrats in elections. That means, said spokesman Jack Cardetti, their votes won’t be known until the convention in August in Denver.
One of the undecided superdelegates is U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton. Spokeswoman Rebecca Loving said Skelton has not endorsed either candidate.
“And I don’t predict that he will before the convention,” Loving said. “I have a sense that he is still contemplating who to support.”
Other undecided superdelegates include state party Chairman John Temporiti, Vice Chairwoman Yolanda Wheat, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, state Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and DNC member Leila Medley.
Brooks, former U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver and DNC member Sandy Querry have expressed their support for Clinton. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay and DNC member Mark Bryant have endorsed Obama.
Uncommitted Kansas superdelegates are Gates, party member Helen Knetzer, U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore and U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda.
Kansas state party Vice Chairwoman Teresa Krusor, a superdelegate from Winfield, has committed her support to Clinton. Three other superdelegates who have made their positions known have thrown their support to Obama: Roy, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and DNC member Lee Kinch, of Wichita.
Only two of Oklahoma’s nine superdelegates have made choices. Vice Chairwoman Kitty Asburry has committed to Obama, and party member Betty McElderry has endorsed Clinton.
Holmes, Gov. Brad Henry, U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, former state Chairman Jay Parmley, and DNC members James Frasier, Kayln Free and Reggie Whitten remain undecided.
Home
Superdelegates in spotlight in tight Democratic race
- Top Stories
-
-
Family of service honored at Memorial Day ceremony
Lt. Col. Christopher Lambert salutes the Pittsburg State University ROTC Color Guard during a Memorial Day ceremony held Monday at the PSU Veterans Memorial.
Lt. Col. Robert Brock returned to his hometown Monday and told an audience of about 500 residents and veterans gathered at the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial that Memorial Day is a celebration of family — America’s family of service.
Continued ... - Master developer working on project possibilities
- Tornado victim’s recovery ‘miraculous’
- Joplin summer school starts next week
-
- Local and State News
-
-
Dog helps some get through the court process
Sophie, a mutt of a dog with draping ears and dotted brows, is helping people in St. Louis County court tell stories of crime to judges, investigators and attorneys.
- Jasper County 911 administrative lines down
- Study suggests continued population drop in Kansas
- Tornado victim’s recovery ‘miraculous’
- Family of service honored at Memorial Day ceremony
-
Dog helps some get through the court process
- Sports
-
-
MIAA shows its strength at national meet
Led by Lincoln University’s eight national champions, the MIAA collected 58 All-America honors during the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships that ended Saturday night in Pueblo, Colo.
- Judge excuses 3rd juror in Roger Clemens trial
- Jackson wins DIRTcar event at Monett
- Goodwin: Wood gets early jump on Golfer of Year award
- Joplin Miners set to open under new coach
-
MIAA shows its strength at national meet
- Crime & Courts
-
-
Two witnesses’ accounts being scrutinized in McDonald County homicide
McDonald County sheriff’s deputies are trying to determine if a Texas man had any help disposing of the body of a man he allegedly shot and killed at a residence west of Goodman the night of May 17-18.
- Exemption cloaks Guard involvement in tornado looting
- Joplin police investigate possible abduction
- Two drivers hurt in traffic accident
- Man reports being assaulted, robbed
-
Two witnesses’ accounts being scrutinized in McDonald County homicide
- Death Notices
-
-
Donna I. Smiley
SHELL KNOB, Mo. - Donna Irene "Donney" Smiley, 91, a grocery store owner, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2012. - Robert M. Ferguson
- Nadine H. Fredrick
- Anita M. Looney
- James Killman
-
Donna I. Smiley
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Taxpayers deserve better
Legislators who fail to work together to fix problems in their state may not reach a compromise, but they do compromise their state and the taxpayers.
Continued ... - Other Views: We need to learn from floods
- Our View: Victims should come first
- Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
- Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
-
Our View: Taxpayers deserve better
- Business
-
-
Stocks open higher on hopes for China stimulus
Stocks opened higher on Wall street Tuesday on optimism that China will take action to reverse the recent slowdown in its economic growth.
Continued ... - Young workers especially wary about stocks in 401ks, IRAs
- Care provider ’without walls’ aims to keep seniors in homes
- More workers stand up for their health
- Balancing Act: Closing the deal isn’t always easy
-
Stocks open higher on hopes for China stimulus
- Lifestyles
-
-
Balloons become everything from giraffes to gateways in Joplin man's hands
Ronald Metz’s fingers fold pinched-off portions of a skinny, blue balloon, wrapping and squeezing them until the balloon ends up looking like a tail-wagging pooch.
- Frankie Meyer: Tornado stories should be recorded
- Cowboy church offers non-traditional Bible camp
- David Yount: Christians still await return of Jesus
- Dave Woods: Branson attractions welcome Memorial Day visitors
-
- National News
-
-
Obama vows to protect benefits for veterans
President Barack Obama honored the nation’s military heroes in a pair of Memorial Day ceremonies, vowing to protect the benefits earned by veterans and their families in an election year marked by the nation’s transition from war.
- Biden reflects on losing wife, daughter
- Labor board member accused of leaks resigns
- New approach tested for hard-to-treat hypertension
- Iran rejects West’s proposal on nuclear curbs
-
- Obituaries
-
-
Robert E. Young Jr.
Robert Ellis Young Jr., passed away Thursday, May 24, 2012, at his residence. - Leo "Buzz" Thomas
- Louise Ryan
- Rhonda J. Carver
- Yvetta "Naydean" Eubanks
-


