May 18, 2008
Dear Fellow Democrat,
I am writing you today to let you know that I will be
supporting Sen. Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in
Denver.
For the past many months, as a superdelegate, I have
remained neutral in this historic contest. As Chair of the Washington
State
Democratic Party, it has been my job to represent all Democrats
throughout Washington state as we
navigated our way through the delegate selection process. It was of
utmost
importance to me that all Democrats had confidence that the Party Chair
and all
the party staff were working to ensure that grassroots Democrats
statewide
would decide how many delegates each candidate would receive.
Beginning with our historic caucuses on February 9th,
and at each step throughout this process – Precinct, Legislative
District,
County, and Congressional District – we were determining how many
delegates
would be allocated to each Presidential candidate. Yesterday, that
process was
completed with our Congressional District Caucuses – the final
opportunity for
a candidate to gain or lose delegates based on turnout. (The remaining
delegates to be allocated in Spokane
will be apportioned in identical ratios as emerged from yesterday's
caucuses.)
It is because we have essentially concluded the question of
how many of our state’s delegates Obama and Clinton will receive in
Denver that I feel I can now
announce my preference to be the Democratic Presidential nominee.
I will be supporting Barack Obama for many reasons. Over the
last few years, I have gained a profound respect for Sen. Obama. I have
read
his books, listened to his speeches, and watched the campaign he has
run on the
grueling modern presidential playing-field for nearly two years. And I
have
spoken with literally hundreds of friends and colleagues – both in and
out of
politics – regarding their opinions and observations of this man. And I
have concluded that Barack Obama is
ready to be a great American President.
Barack Obama can win this election, and has clearly energized
a generation of voters that hunger for change, helping inspire a
critical
voting block for Democrats for the future. He has also inspired
independent
voters and even some Republicans who have never considered voting
Democratic.
I’m confident that between now and November, Americans will
compare the inspiring vision, strong values, and energy for change
embodied by
Barack Obama with the tired old recycled ideas of Bush Republicanism
embodied
by the militaristic and fiercely-conservative John McCain – and they
will vote
to place Barack Obama in the White House.
Through this campaign, I have gained an enormous respect for
Hillary Clinton. This country and this party are unquestionably far
stronger
for the contributions she’s made throughout this campaign, and
throughout her
long career in public service. I will be eternally grateful for Sen.
Clinton’s
appearance at our awards dinner last year, as she was warmly welcomed
by
Washington State Democrats, and for the time she has spent campaigning
in Washington state. I have
no doubt that Sen. Clinton would be a tough, thoughtful, intelligent,
compassionate,
and supremely-prepared President of the United States.
At this point in time, however, I feel the voters have
spoken, that Sen. Obama will be our nominee, and that is time for us as
Democrats to begin the final stretch of this historic 2008 campaign to
take
back America. It is time to unify our party around one
candidate.
I thank the thousands of people who have contacted me asking
me to support their candidate; and I profoundly acknowledge the
supporters of
Sen. Clinton who may be disappointed by my decision.
I am honored to serve as Chair of your Washington State
Democratic Party.
Sincerely,
Dwight Pelz