Rednour: I’m for Obama
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday, I noted that John Rednour was a Hillary Clinton-supporting super delegate. Lee Newspapers contacted Rednour and he denied it…
In a complicated campaign for president, longtime Du Quoin Mayor John Rednour appears to be part of a case of mistaken identity.
Rednour is a so-called “superdelegate,” one of hundreds of party faithful including elected officials and national committee members who get to vote for a Democratic nominee at the party’s convention.
With the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama so close, many have tried keeping track of the commitments of those superdelegates because their decisions could help decide the primary election.
Rednour is often listed as a Clinton backer. But Rednour said Tuesday that he supports Obama. And last March, he gave Obama’s campaign $1,000, according to records.
“Where all this has come from, I don’t know,” Rednour said.
One theory: His son.
* Actually, the confusion stems from the Clinton campaign itself. Here’s a press release from the campaign issued on 11/30/2007…
The Clinton campaign today announced its Illinois Steering Committee, made up of community leaders from across the state who will mobilize grassroots support for Hillary leading up to Illinois’ February 5th primary. […]
John Rednour, Mayor of DuQuoin
I can’t find a correction anywhere on Clinton’s site this morning. But Rednour’s statement to Lee means, of course, that there are exactly zero known Clinton super delegates in Illinois.
- wndycty - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 8:29 am:
Is Rahm Emanuel a super delegate? If so is he uncommitted?
- Chillary Hinton - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 8:39 am:
I cannot understand why Hillary did not win in Wisconsin. She did all of the right things. She supported Second Amendment rights and stated that she hunted with her father as a child. She ate an entire brat sandwich at the Brat Stop in Kenosha. She never once referred to the people as “cheeseheads.” What went wrong?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 8:40 am:
wndycty, follow the links. I wrote about Rahm yesterday. Yes, he is an uncommitted super delegate.
- wndycty - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 8:46 am:
Whoops, sorry about that. Long week and its only Wednesday.
- Madison County Watcher - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 9:50 am:
What I’ve not heard about is how are superdelegates chosen to serve? Does the state party chose them? The congressmen? When do they chose them?
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 11:56 am:
I thought that Big John was on Clinton’s slate, not superdelegate (which he also appears to be) but the actual slated delegates that filed with the SBE and appearing on the ballot.
- Unreliable Sources - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 12:23 pm:
Sounds like Rednours are like most of the big-name Dems in Illinois — trying to cover their behinds no matter who wins. I’ve heard that the Dem Congressmen are all backing Obama out of obligation / fear of retribution on earmarks, etc. However, many have made sure their wives are for Hillary “just in case.”
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 4:10 pm:
19 super-delegates have committed to Obama.
Here are the seven known uncommitted Super-Delegates from Illinois:
Cong. Dan Lipinski - figures
Cong. Rahm Emmanuel - Probably with Obama, but maintaining appearance of neutrality
State Sen. Carol Ronen - 48th Ward Committeeman, which Obama won 65-33.
Darlena Williams-Burnett - State Central Committeewoman, 7th CD (Danny Davis). I just can’t explain this one.
Steve Powell - UFCW, which just endorsed Obama. Look for this to change.
Ed Smith - Laborers International Union of North America, likely waiting to see which way his union goes. Worth noting that LIUNA is part of the “Change to Win” group that split with the AFL-CIO. Other C2W members SEIU, UFCW and Teamsters have now endorsed Obama. LIUNA is relying on member surveys for its endorsements…given the trend of male voters supporting Obama, LIUNA could be getting off the fence soon.
Margie Woods (Will County Board) - Another one I don’t get. Obama won Will County 60-38, and surely did much better in Woods’ County Board District.
Apparently, there are also some “phantom” superdelegates out there. CNN lists 32 super-delegates from IL, but I only account for 26.
- Shelbyville - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 4:26 pm:
John Rednour was a great friend of George Ryan’s until trouble raised it’s ugly head. If anything happens in the Obama camp, I expect him to be just as loyal.
- St. Nick - Wednesday, Feb 20, 08 @ 5:24 pm:
-Shelbyville-
You’re right. However, Rednour’s no fool. If Obama tanks he can always say his son was with Hilary. And if Hilary loses he can always backdate a check to McCain. As long as his son is taken care of, he doesn’t care.
Unbelievable.