Clinton loses longtime allies to Obama
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, a superdelegate, switched from Clinton to Obama, the Obama campaign confirmed late Wednesday. Her defection came on the heels of the announcement by Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, also a superdelegate, that he, too, was leaving Clinton for Obama.
Earlier this week, a popular San Antonio elected official, Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia Romo, abandoned Clinton and threw her support to Obama.
"Initially, I identified a lot with Hillary. But I was sort of disappointed, at least here in Texas, with their lack of organization," Romo said in an interview.
Former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, a top Texas Clinton adviser, said he is disappointed Romo jumped ship but predicted Clinton would win Texas and Ohio.
Clinton is counting on other longtime Texas friends to help put her over the top in the biggest state left on the electoral calendar. She has far more endorsements among top Hispanic leaders, and a new Texas A&M/Latino Decisions poll shows her leading Obama 62-22, with 13 percent undecided in the key demographic group.
But Obama has made inroads with Hispanic leaders, picking up support in recent weeks from Mexican-American leaders in the state Legislature. Meanwhile, supporters in Clinton's South Texas stronghold, were stunned to see Laredo native Frederico Pena, a former Clinton administration cabinet member, campaigning for Obama along the border. Pena endorsed Obama last year.
"I question where the loyalty might have gone," said state Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, a Clinton supporter.
Lucio has even seen a split in his own family. His son, state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, has become one of Obama's most prominent supporters. While Clinton can tap into a large network of former White House allies, not all of them have joined her campaign.
President Clinton's 1992 campaign manager, David Wilhelm, endorsed Obama earlier this month. Other Clintonites supporting Obama include former Commerce Secretary William Daley, former Assistant Secretary of State Susan Rice and Clinton lawyer Greg Craig.
Support for Clinton has also eroded among the nearly 800 superdelegates, Democratic party leaders who play a role in selecting the nominee no matter what the voters do.
But not everybody is picking sides. Houston Mayor Bill White, who served in President Clinton's Energy Department, is one of the biggest Democratic fish in Texas who remains neutral -- even though Clinton and Obama have called him personally to try to reel him in.
"He'll stay in the pond, unhooked," said the mayor's spokesman, Frank Michel.
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