Walz's choice to respect the decision of his constituents and cast his superdelegate vote for Barack Obama has gotten much attention, nearly all of it sane.
At TPM Election Central, Eric Kleefeld writes in Dem Congressman Walz Endorses Obama Because His Constituents Did, Too:
For anybody worried about the super-delegates overruling the wishes of the democratically elected pledged delegates, Barack Obama's latest Congressional endorsement should be taken as an encouraging sign. Congressman Tim Walz (MN) announced that he's backing Obama now, even though he really likes both candidates. And here's why:
"Last night at the Democratic caucuses, the voters of southern Minnesota overwhelmingly supported Senator Barack Obama and his hopeful vision for positive change. As a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will honor their decision and support Senator Obama."
If Walz is following the decision of the people in his district, could the super-delegates as a whole actually refuse to honor the decision of the country?
The Carpetbagger Report mentions this in its Thursday's campaign roundup. The news in Minnesota's netroots started with IDHA, and was quickly followed by posts at Political Party, MnPublius, BSP, and MnCR, Minnpost, and Minnesota Monitor.
In the traditional media, MPR reported Walz backs Obama; the Star Tribune, Walz endorses Obama; the Post Bulletin in Rep. Walz throws his support to Obama; the LaCrosse Tribune in Wisconsin primary primer.
MPR quotes Walz in Candidates do the math to determine delegate numbers:
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, from southern Minnesota, had not endorsed anyone before the caucuses, because he wanted to see how DFLers voted in his district.
They went for Obama, so now he is, as well.
"I'm uncomfortable with that idea that I would somehow have a better insight into it, or that I would use my office to try to influence," said Walz. "They're getting the same information I'm getting - people were learning about the candidates and I think it's just a much healthier situation when they come to that conclusion that I represent them and I'll speak with the voice they were speaking with last night."
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