The endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry was met by a bipartisan negative reaction in the blogosphere, with many writing that it was meaningless and some claiming it would actually taint Obama.
They have missed the point. Some endorsements matter beyond the momentary flicker they create on television screens and computer monitors.
Kerry is putting an e-mail list with millions of addresses at Obama’s disposal for fundraising and organization. He can help Obama with the traditional Democrats who favored Sen. Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire.ÂÂ
Kerry can help Obama in Massachussetts — a state with 93 pledged delegates at stake. As Sen. Ted Kennedy is unlikely to endorse a candidate until that candidate is the nominee, Kerry is the next best thing to a Kennedy in Massachussetts and perhaps valuable to a campaign that likes to make allusions to JFK and RFK. Massachussetts is currently considered to be favorable to Clinton. However, even if she wins the state, Kerry’s aid may boost Obama’s proportional allocation of delegates. ÂÂ
Last, but not least, Kerry is a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. That’s right; Kerry Obama just picked up a delegate on a day with no caucus or primary.
Below the headlines, Obama was also endorsed by Rep. George Miller.  He is not nationally known in the pop culture, but The Hill led a piece on Miller thusly:
It is sport on Capitol Hill to speculate as to whether Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s fellow California Democrat, longtime friend, political enforcer and ideological soul mate, is the true power in the House.
Like Kerry, Miller is a superdelegate, bringing Obama’s delegate count to two today. He will also be able to provide e-mail and donor lists to help build Obama’s organization in California, which is likely the make-or-break state for the Obama campaign.
All in all, not a bad day for Obama.
Comment by MayBee on 1/10 @ 10:00 pm #
Good points, Karl.
I wonder if Kerry will serve as Obama’s ambassador to the netroots.
Comment by McGehee on 1/10 @ 10:38 pm #
Except for, you know, the huge negative momentum this gives him, going into the general — if he’s nominated.
But that bad day comes later.
Comment by maggie katzen on 1/10 @ 11:21 pm #
so does anyone else find it amusing that for all the whining Democratics do about “disenfranchising” voters they sure do have funny ways of showing it. what with superdelegates and the whole not seating MI and FL delegates (oh, well, maybe they will) and getting all up in arms about trying to limit voter fraud by requiring ids.
Comment by MayBee on 1/10 @ 11:38 pm #
Amen, maggie.
Comment by B Moe on 1/10 @ 11:49 pm #
I wonder what party Faye is registered to:
http://www.kpcnews.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/today/evening_star/doc478441f2313a5420740819.txt
in either state.
Comment by keninnorcal on 1/11 @ 12:03 am #
“That’s right; Kerry just picked up a delegate on a day with no caucus or primary.” You mean Obama? Sorry, got confused there…
“Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s fellow California Democrat, longtime friend, political enforcer and ideological soul mate, is the true power in the House.” After this year’s disastrous and largely impotent showing in the House, I would work as hard as possible to distance myself from that dubious distinction.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/11 @ 12:22 am #
Obama can have my list too except for lasexyspankspank@yahoo.com cause I’m thinking there’s maybe, well, anyway – just I’m thinking he’d probably not get the most out of that one given his circumstances and all – whatever – all the rest is his. I’m a giver like that.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/11 @ 12:34 am #
But like how you write about George Miller not being big as a popcultural figure. I kind of wonder after Oprah what kind of popcultural endorsement would be really accretive before he hit a tipping point and started having a feel more like those people in the back of US Weekly. I’m thinking there’s a fine line between Obama and crap you can look at in – wait – does Perez Hilton have archives?
Comment by Karl on 1/11 @ 1:39 am #
MayBee,
Now that Obama is the victim of Diebold voter fraud, his nutroots are taking hold.
Comment by JM Hanes on 1/11 @ 1:58 am #
Well, that explains the otherwise inexplicable hymn that Obama sang to Kerry today. Thanks.
Comment by Matt, Esq. on 1/11 @ 11:39 am #
The endorsement would have been more effective if Kerry had done it while parasailing.
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