Ohio's Superdelegates Hold Endorsements Hostage

Reps. Marcy Kaptur, Dennis J. Kucinich, Tim Ryan, Zack Space, Betty S. Sutton and Charlie Wilson, and Sen. Sherrod Brown have formed a "Protect American Jobs" pact. They have decided to hold back their endorsement of a presidential candidate until the candidate has satisfied a laundry list of requirements the group has deemed important to Ohio economy.

“We had a general agreement,” Kucinich said of the pact. “We have economic issues that need to be addressed. Ohio has economic issues more urgent than any other state.”

Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur,... said “We have a laundry list of measures we think would be effective, some involving tax policy, some involving investment policy, intellectual property incentives to hold investments in this country,” Kaptur said. “I’m hoping superdelegates [who] are uncommitted that have the economy as their major concern will gravitate to our group and use that power to gain additional attention.”

This sounds great. Why not work together to help Ohio and Ohioans? But, it seems Rep. Ryan although part of the group, isn't that crazy about the idea. He sabotoges the group by insisting they will not withhold votes but will try to pressure the candidates to address the issues. He initially was going to make an endorsement but changed his mind and decided to join the coalition just Monday. I don't know, but it would seem to me, if you really wanted to get some concessions from the candidates, you would, at least - keep your poker face on a little longer than the announcement.

“We want the candidates to talk about the issues important to Ohio. We all have the same issues, and we’ve talked about them. But I don’t think there’s any coordinated effort to stick together. There are conversations. It gets hard to build any kind of alliance when, in a lot of our districts, certain candidates did really, really well.”

If this is an honest effort - good for them.

If this is some political stunt to highlight their already predetermined favorite candidate and make themselves appear tough - good for them, too. I think the whole Ohio economy was glossed over by the presidential candidates (all they really talked about ,in depth, was NAFTA), if these Congressmen and women want to convince us that their vote has our best interest at heart - Hell yeah! Start with jobs. That is the role of the superdelegate right?

Of course, I am biased, because this announcement and Rep. Ryan's reaction suggests to me that, these candidates may be thinking of going against the popular vote to endorse Obama - whom they already believe to be better for Ohioans and Ohio's economy. That's just speculation on my part but - maybe I'm right :-)