Jodi Rave: Obama secures Indian superdelegates

Tuesday, May 6, 2008  

"Superdelegate Kalyn Free, one of the most influential women in Indian Country politics, announced on Monday her support for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Her endorsement brings solid consensus in support of Obama among all Native superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention this August in Denver.

“I'm seeing a rebirth and reawakening in this country to political activism,” Free, a DNC at-large member, said on Monday. “We're seeing something in this country we haven't seen since the late '60s. We're seeing record numbers of people getting involved. The catalyst for all this, the common denominator, is Sen. Barack Obama. He has lit a fire in many hearts across the country.”

The Choctaw woman from Oklahoma said she embraces Obama's commitment to bring Native people into the national political discussion, including a pledge to invite tribes to an annual White House summit and to include Natives in his administration.

Free is one of only three Natives in the country who have risen to the top voting ranks as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Nebraska's Frank LaMere, also a DNC superdelegate, announced his support of Obama in February. Superdelegate Margarett Campbell, vice chairwoman of the Montana Democratic Party, pledged support to Obama in April, but recanted after party rules prevented her from backing any candidate until after the state's June 3 primary."

Get the Story:
Native superdelegate commits to Obama (The Missoulian 5/6)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

Related Stories:
Jodi Rave: Games help Native youth tackle tough topics (5/5)
Jodi Rave: Montana Indian Educator of the Year (4/30)
Jodi Rave: Fort Lewis College in 'boarding school era' (4/28)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree woman in Clinton camp (4/25)
Jodi Rave: Montana tribal leaders back Obama (4/24)
Jodi Rave: Groundbreaking for Indian center at UM (4/21)
Jodi Rave: Groundbreaking for Native center (4/18)
Jodi Rave: Clinton campaign falters on Indian policy (4/17)
Jodi Rave: Clinton and Obama make Indian pledges (4/7)
Jodi Rave: Tribal governments and transparency (3/31)
Jodi Rave: Awakening a spiritual revolution (3/17)
Jodi Rave: Blood, DNA and tribal citizenship (3/14)
Jodi Rave: Joining the Big Foot Memorial Ride (12/18)
Jodi Rave: Youth a part of Big Foot Memorial Ride (12/17)
Jodi Rave: Natives a priority at Montana State (12/10)
Jodi Rave: Nike executive true to Native roots (12/6)
Jodi Rave: Foreign visitors come for powwows (12/3)
Jodi Rave: Native professors for Native studies (11/30)
Jodi Rave: Tribes tap into tourism industry (11/29)
Jodi Rave: UM opens Indian research institute (11/6)
Jodi Rave: Conference explores Indian resiliency (11/5)
Jodi Rave: Let the experts tell the Native story (11/1)
Jodi Rave: Cobell trial ends after 10 days (10/29)
Jodi Rave: Film explores Blackfoot ties to land (10/26)
Jodi Rave: Conference addresses violence (10/25)
Jodi Rave: Sami in Norway embrace their heritage (10/22)
Jodi Rave: Climate change hits Natives across globe (10/15)
Jodi Rave: Foundation raises money at Blackfeet (10/2)