Mich.'s Clinton delegates to support Obama

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MSU Board of Trustees member Faylene Owen will be one of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s, D-N.Y., 69 delegates from Michigan heading to the Democratic National Convention in August, but she isn’t planning on supporting Clinton much longer.

Owen said she and others currently in the Clinton camp would be supporting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., once officially released by Clinton.

“Once we have been released, which I expect to happen, we will become Obama delegates,” Owen said. “We don’t know any different.”

Among the Obama delegates chosen were United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger; state House Speaker Andy Dillon; state Sens. Tupac Hunter and Buzz Thomas; former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer; former U.S. Rep. David Bonior; and former Detroit police Chief Benny Napoleon.

Besides Owen, other Clinton delegates chosen were Jill Alper, who helped run Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s campaigns as well as Clinton’s Michigan campaign; Granholm’s husband, Dan Mulhern; Michigan Education Association President Iris Salters; and state Sen. Gilda Jacobs.

The new delegates will join 83 selected in April at district conventions, including party leaders such as former Gov. James Blanchard, American Federation of Teachers of Michigan President David Hecker and Al Garrett, head of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 25.

Clinton’s delegates, together with Obama’s 59, will be heading to the Aug. 25-28 national convention in Denver.

National party officials originally stripped Michigan and Florida of their delegates for breaking party rules by moving up their presidential primaries. The Democratic National Committee’s rules committee agreed last month to seat the delegates, but give each just half a vote.

Granholm told reporters during a Saturday afternoon conference call held by the Obama campaign that she’s sure the Illinois senator will give the delegations back their votes.

“He has committed to giving full votes to both Michigan and Florida,” Granholm said. “I’m assuming because he’s the (presumptive) nominee he will have a very persuasive discussion with (DNC Chairman) Howard Dean.”

Teamsters President James Hoffa Jr. and United Auto Workers union official Richard Long were selected to fill two superdelegate spots, joining 27 Michigan superdelegates already named.

“This is our moment to move forward,” Lt. Gov. John Cherry, a Clinton superdelegate who now backs Obama, said to several hundred Democrats meeting at the Lansing Center.

North Oakland Democratic Club chairman Phil Reid was elected a Clinton delegate in April but said he’s already networking with Obama supporters in his area and expects to be helping the Obama camp soon.

“We didn’t get our first pick, but our number one pick is the Democrats,” Reid said.

Owen said once she’s released, the main issue will be winning the election.

“Everyone cares about putting a Democrat in for president,” Owen said. “We’ve had enough of Bush, and we need Obama as president of the United States.”

Staff writer Joy Walter contributed to this report.

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