Obama's "endorsement" rumor debunked by Richardson spokesman

[MethuenProgressive]

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3032
Posted several times as "true" on DU, HuffPo and elsewhere:

Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, "We've heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren't viable. Nothing definitive but there's a trend going on," she added with a smile.

A little further down the thread, and ignored by ObamaNation's rumormongers:
Richardson Campaign Response (4.00 / 4)

Hi this is Joaquin with the Richardson Campaign and the rumor is false- there are no deals. These are typical last minute election shenanigans.
Joaquin H. Guerra
Richardson for President
jguerra-at-richardsonforpresidnet.com

It's "nice" how she called the Obama/Karl Rove/CREEP tactic "shenanigans".

[William769]

1. Why does this not surprise me.

[MethuenProgressive]

13. 'Cuz you've been paying attention?

:hi:

[William769]

14. Shame on me for that.

[TeamJordan23]

2. LOL. Obama's Rumor? Looks like you are the one with the Rove tactics

by your misleading OP. Obama's camp has never said anything and you take the word of an Obama staffer who even says 'Nothing is definitive'

[MethuenProgressive]

7. "Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed"

You - "Obama's camp has never said anything"?
What part of "A national Obama staffer who confirmed" are you in denial about?

[mckeown1128]

20. Ohh so you know this information is accurate...

Please tell...what was the name of the staffer?

[William769]

12. So this is just another miss speak from a Obama Staffer?

That seems to be the MO and of course your MO of deflection still has not worked.

[KennedyGuy]

3. Oops..

a little premature "trending" here...

[KennedyGuy]

4. dupe

[taylor egv420106]

5. And your evidence

To support your claim that Obama had ANYTHING to do with this? Oh wait, it was Obama, so its undemocratic to prove an accusation.

[MethuenProgressive]

9. Open Left - "A National Obama Staffer Who Confirmed"

Not "my" claim, taylor.
Read and weep at the links.

[hughee99]

23. Who confirmed what, exactly?

Yes, the staffer confirmed that they heard a RUMOR about what Richardson MIGHT be telling his staff. Apparently, you've heard that rumor too. Did YOU have anything to do with it???

[Debi]

6. And Obama's camp & Biden's camp

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/biden_spokesman_there_are_no_discussions_of_any_deal_with_obama_camp.php

Biden Spokesman: There Are No Discussions Of Any Deal With Obama Camp
By Greg Sargent - January 3, 2008, 12:44PM
A spokesman for Joe Biden is denying reports that the Biden and Obama camps are in talks about a possible deal whereby Biden would shift support to Obama in certain precincts.

Via Ben Smith, The Washington Post reports the following about such conversations:

A source close to the Biden campaign described a possible arrangement, now under discussion between the two camps, that could apply to certain precincts where Biden can't meet the 15 percent viability threshold, but where he is backed by local officials with the clout to move Biden supporters to Obama. In return, Biden could capture some of Obama's overflow in precincts where the Illinois senator has more than enough support to win.
WaPo quotes an Obama source confirming that the talks are underway.

But Biden spokesperson Mark Paustenbach is denying unequivocally that there are any discussions at all taking place. He sent us this:

"No discussions have taken place. We have not made any deals or arrangements. We are strong enough on our own."
We're seeking official word from the Obama camp on this. More as we learn it.

Late Update: Obama spokesman Bill Burton also just denied to us that there are any talks underway. He sent us this:

"Iowans are independent thinkers. We hope that we're everyone's first choice but if we're not, we hope that we're they're second choice."

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Yeah, I saw where Obama tried that with Biden's supporters too.

Desperation tactics by Obama.

[Debi]

17. Execpt Obama camp says they didn't 'try that' n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

22. Right... "Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed"

The other option is that OTB made this up. Let's see... Obama planting rumors via un-named top staffers, or pixies... Logic says Obama.

[Debi]

24. Bill Burton is a named source who says they didn't start the rumor

I don't like the fact that the 'denial' took a day and 1/2 to get here, but the only 'facts' we have are that the campaign is saying it didn't start the rumor.

[rodeodance]

8. the damage is done.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. Another success for the Obama camp...

I "Hope" they're proud...

[Debi]

19. Yep, the story is the rumor, not the denial n/t

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightZone]

21. "hate and condescension"

Like your post, perhaps?

Glass houses and all that....

[Capn Sunshine]

26. like this whole thread

Hillary's people sure bring out the best in us, don't they?:puke:

[TwilightZone]

29. As an undecided, I can assure you that the vitriol and innuendo...

is most certainly not limited to supporters of Hillary.

To be honest, there aren't many "supporters" of any candidate that are doing their candidates many favors of late.

[Carrieyazel]

16. Obama nation sure is full of false rumor mongerers. Their scared for some reason.

[MethuenProgressive]

18. link to Obama's planted story in HuffPo:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-davis/obama-on-track-to-win-cau_b_79308.html

[KennedyGuy]

30. Yeah..I guess a National Obama staffer would be an unreliable source...

Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, "We've heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren't viable. Nothing definitive but there's a trend going on," she added with a smile. Ah, that's an understatement.

All of this off-the-record conversation and backroom pol talk could be nothing or something.

But the fact that the rumors are flying and top aides are willing to discuss their thinking with Offthebus, albeit without disclosing their names, is still enough smoke to detect yet another spark that could ignite a fire under the Obama campaign's fortunes in the Iowa caucuses.

[NashVegas]

25. Biden's People Also Denying

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/biden_spokesman_there_are_no_discussions_of_any_deal_with_obama_camp.php

[NewHampster]

27. This entire Iowa caucus reeks of Rove

[MethuenProgressive]

28. Yesterday ObamaNation delighted in their rumor. Today they're crying 'it's just a rumor'!

The very same ObamaNationals who celebrated this TRUTH! yesterday - are crying RUMOR! today - all over their KKKarl Obama planted story.
Obama and ObamaNation. Truly deserving of each other. :puke:

[MethuenProgressive]

31. Iowa Independent also ran the false planted story - and then had to add the correction.

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=178


Update: Joaquin Guerra, Richardson's national Online Director, denies that any plans are in place to direct supporters to Obama on the second round of voting.

[ceile]

32. Thank goodness. n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

33. BIden Iowa Campaign Director: NO DEALS WITH ANY CAMPAIGN

Biden campaign Iowa State director Danny O’Brien said "there are no discussions underway and there will be no deal with any campaign. We believe Sen. Biden is strong enough on his own."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3936694

[desi]

34. The Audacity of Rovian Dirty Tricks

who would have imagined? Anybody if they had been paying attention to Axelrod and Co.

[debatepro]

36. Obama Will Get Richardson’s Second-Choice Votes

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/obama-will-get-richardsons-second-choice-votes/

Barack Obama’s drive to win tonight’s Iowa caucuses is getting a boost from two of his putative rivals. After earlier winning the support of Dennis Kucinich, Obama’s campaign has reached an agreement with Bill Richardson for the second-choice votes of Richardson supporters in caucuses where the New Mexico governor can’t clear the threshold for competition, according to a senior Obama campaign adviser. The adviser estimated that the deal puts Mr. Obama in position to claim support from roughly half of the 15 percent of Democratic caucus-goers expected to support second-tier candidates.
In return, the Obama adviser said, Obama forces will lend support to Mr. Richardson at caucuses where Mr. Obama turns out more backers than he needs to win any additional delegates.

Perhaps there is a deal?

[desi]

39. What the hay?

How in heaven's name do politicians invade a state and believe they can use the voting public as mere pawns? If that were to be the way we did business here in Ohio no doubt they would get an earful and told that MY VOTE was mine and if they could not appreciate that fact then they could take a flying leap.

[jillan]

35. Kickin' for the TRUTH!!!

[FreeState]

38. Ditto n/t

[DWilliamsamh]

37. Two things

1) WTF is with associating Obama w/ Rove?

2) And you know this to be a genuine Spokesperson for the Richardson Campaign how exactly?

[MethuenProgressive]

40. Obma's National Spokesman backpedals from his planted rumor:

The national spokesman for Mr. Obama’s campaign, Bill Burton, said word of a deal “isn’t true.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/obama-will-get-richardsons-second-choice-votes/

ObamaNation's high priests of propaganda is a liar? :popcorn:

[debatepro]

41. Not formal agreement... just an non formal agreement.

Looks like there is an update...

Update | 3:25 p.m. David Plouffe,
Obama campaign manager, responding to the report that Mr. Obama had reached an agreement for reciprocal support with Bill Richardson’s campaign, insisted the campaign had reached “no formal arrangements” with any of his rivals. But he said that “there are certainly places where our precinct captains want to work with Richardson” supporters — to gain second-choice support in cases where Mr. Richardson doesn’t reach the threshold to compete, or to lend Mr. Richardson surplus backers in instances where they can’t yield any additional Obama delegates.
“We’re giving our precinct captains a lot of latitude to work this out,” Mr. Plouffe said. “We’re going to fight as hard as we can for every one” of Mr. Richardson’s available supporters, and “It comes down to how well our precinct captains do.” With polling showing that Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards are the top contenders for second-choice support, Mr. Plouffe said they’d made similar efforts with supporters of Joseph Biden and Chris Dodd as well. Dennis Kucinich has already publicly urged his backers to support Mr. Obama in precincts where Kucinich is not viable.