Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota endorses Obama

[BeyondGeography]

Obama Picks Up Endorsement
By Jeff Zeleny

DES MOINES – A yearlong flurry of endorsements in the presidential race – some big, some small – has slowly considerably in recent days, with candidates largely having already unveiled the names of those who have signed onto their campaigns.
Today, though, another senator jumps into the fray.

Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota, is announcing this morning that he is endorsing Senator Barack Obama. Mr. Conrad, chairman of the Budget Committee, is the second senator to support Mr. Obama’s candidacy. (Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois also is supporting Mr. Obama.)

Mr. Conrad, elected in 1986, is among Mr. Obama’s closest friends in the Senate. (Before Mr. Obama left Washington to run for president, the two were frequently seen chatting on the Senate floor or in the corridors of the Capitol.)
Most senators have been reluctant to wade into the 2008 presidential race, particularly considering there are five of their colleagues waging campaigns. But Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton remains the leader in the Under-The-Dome endorsement category, with support from nine fellow senators, some of whom will be arriving in Iowa in the coming days to help out during the final days of the Iowa caucus campaign.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/obama-picks-up-endorsement/

[jefferson_dem]

1. Good news!

:thumbsup:

[DemKR]

2. another dino for obama n/t

[babylonsister]

3. Why is Conrad a DINO, oh wise one? nt

[DemKR]

7. Kent Conrad's voting record

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Kent_Conrad.htm

# Rated 43% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion. (Dec 2003)
# Rated 25% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)

Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
# Rated 40% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
# Rated 56% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. (Dec 2006)
# Rated 75% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action. (Dec 2006)

# Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
# Rated 70% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 50% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence. (Dec 2006)

Rated 53% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment. (Dec 2003)

Rated 50% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues. (Dec 2003)

# Voted YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
# Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
# Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
# Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)

# Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)

# Voted YES on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
# Voted YES on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
# Religious affiliation: Unitarian. (Nov 2000)
# New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
# Member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Jan 2001)
# Rated 33% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation. (Dec 2006)

[TwilightZone]

10. Not necessarily a DINO, but like most upper Midwest Dems, he's pretty moderate.

His record is pretty mixed on issues like abortion, civil rights, and the environment. He tends to be right down the middle on a lot of issues.

[babylonsister]

12. Moderate I can deal with. nt

[Infinite Hope]

20. I'm an Edwards supporter, but it IS a big endorsement because...

he's a moderate-if-not-conservative Senator from a very similar state (close enough to be considered a neighbor). Being from Minnesota myself, I can attest to the feeling of commonality among the 5 upper midwest states. It could have some minimal impact in Iowa. In Iowa, minimal could mean everything.

[ClarkUSA]

5. This, from the supporter of the neocon warmonger who voted for IWR and Kyl-Lieberman?

:rofl:

[babylonsister]

14. You just can't make this stuff up! nt

[jefferson_dem]

6. why do you say that?

please be specific...and thanks in advance.

[wyldwolf]

8. the reference, of course, being Conrad is DLC.

I detest the term "DINO" but the term is often used by "progressives"* do describe DLC members. Obama has always been cozy with the DLC which fine by me. I prefer, for the most part, their pragmatic policies.

[TwilightZone]

11. In fairness, Conrad is pretty moderate.

His record is about as straight-down-the-middle as it gets. In most upper Midwest states, it's the only way you're going to get elected as a Democrat.

[wyldwolf]

13. the DLC, on average, is moderate.

[babylonsister]

4. Yes! Good news! nt

[ClarkUSA]

9. In Nov., Obama was the only Democrat to open a campaign HQ in North Dakota, a Feb. 5 state

Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, has named former North Dakota Democratic state chairman Dan Hannaher as a senior adviser,
said Steve Hildebrand, a deputy manager of the Obama campaign.

Hannaher said he would be helping to develop North Dakota grass-roots support networks for Obama, whom he called "the most
remarkable public figure of my life, really, at this point.''

"I probably put a bit of a heavy weight on Barack's shoulders because I sense true greatness in him,'' Hannaher said. "He just is a
transformational figure, I think, for this country.''

Hannaher, who runs a Fargo office supply business, was the state Democratic chairman from 1995 to 1997.

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/11/20/news/update/doc474332f349925550090804.txt

[Colobo]

15. Viva Conrad! Viva Obama!

[Hope And Change]

16. Wow!Great news indeed.

[maximusveritas]

17. Conrad voted against the IWR even though he's from a deep red state

That probably explains part of the reason why he's for Obama

[flpoljunkie]

18. Yes, indeed! Conrad is also great as Chairman of the Budget Committee. Really knows his stuff!

Mr. Conrad, one of nearly two dozen senators who voted against the Congressional war authorization, also said voters should take notice of the judgment Mr. Obama demonstrated in speaking against the war in 2002.

“Senator Obama has the greatest potential to get us back on track,” Mr. Conrad said, speaking to reporters on a conference call. He is scheduled to join Mr. Obama in Iowa on Sunday.

from the link in the OP...

[ellisonz]

19. GOBAMA.