Pledged to Hillary—But Predicting Obama

But why is it not the discussion to have right now?
Remember what I said, I'm for Senator Clinton. I'm not against Senator Obama. If he gets the nomination, I want him to win. If he runs a campaign where he's doing a lot of talking about race, it's going to be one messy season. The reason is, we don't know how to have that conversation. Any time you're talking about a volatile issue like race, people are going to make awkward statements. Now, we all make awkward statements, but when you talk about race, the media pounces on, "Well, you said that black people seem to be taller than white people, isn't that racist?" I'm just using that as an example. If we start having that discussion, the 24-hour news outlets might as well start a new network, R-A-C-E. That's all it's going to be.

When it comes to language, you've said that the use of the word "articulate" by white people to describe African Americans bothers you, but you referred to Senator Obama as an "articulate" man during your CBC interview. You also said that in the black tradition he would probably be "mediocre." What does that mean?
That was more tongue in cheek. I testified before Congress in 1977. After my testimony, one of the members of Congress, a Democrat, walked down and said, "That was such an articulate presentation." You don't have to say I'm articulate. Why can't you just say, "That was an awesome speech."

And the point I was trying to make [regarding his rhetorical skills] was that most whites have never heard of the great silver-tongued orators like Sandy Ray and Gardner Taylor and Kelly Miller Smith and Otis Moss. I think that's because of our racial separation. They haven't had that opportunity to hear these great folk. I think Obama will join me in saying that neither of us are in the same league with the likes of Gardner Taylor. For many whites it's like, "Oh my goodness, did you hear him [Obama]." He's good, but black folks hear powerful people all the time.

I'm sure you know that Clinton strategist Harold Ickes has discussed whether Obama is electable [because of the Reverend Wright issue] with uncommitted superdelegates. What are your thoughts on that?
Well, I didn't know that. I didn't know that was being said to superdelegates. I understand politics. I wouldn't necessarily do that, but the reality is that if [the GOP] can Swift Boat a war hero then I think we'd be surprised if they don't bring up Wright. I'm sure they will, but they have something reserved for Senator Clinton, as well. If you listen to conservative talk-radio shows, they are saying that in the general elections that the Reverend Wright ties will hurt. That's not going to stop. Though I'm not sure that ought to be one of our strategies.

Some Democratic insiders have said all the fighting between the candidates is normal and that it's OK if it runs to the convention. You've called that the party line. What sort of impact would a run to the convention have on the Democratic Party in the general election?
You're familiar with the poll that says a certain number of Clinton supporters won't vote for Obama and a certain number of Obama supporters won't vote for Clinton? I think a toxic campaign all the way to June will raise those numbers. I would hope something will happen between now and Denver that will prevent a fight at the convention. I sent a letter to [Democratic National Committee chairman Howard] Dean a few weeks ago asking that he appoint a committee of Democratic elders … who would meet and discuss options to solve the Michigan-Florida situation. I think if Senator Clinton loses, she would sleep a lot better if she felt that she lost with all votes counted. We're going to get to Denver and have an eruption if we don't seat the people from Florida and Michigan or otherwise satisfy them. All I want is for us to leave Denver more united.

If you think Obama will likely win the Democratic nomination and the general election, then why have you decided to stick with Clinton?
Because I didn't sign up for a friendship in good times only. And as I said earlier, there is a chance—if we pull the run that I described—to win. What happens if somewhere along the way Senator Obama stumbles? I just think we need to have some options. Republicans don't have that luxury. They're planning a coronation for [Sen. John] McCain. What happens if his well-known explosiveness surfaces in a very damaging way?

Your own state is historically considered a bellwether for the general election. How do you think it will swing come November?
Missouri will be a difficult state for either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. Whoever wins, I will tell them to send surrogates to St. Louis and Kansas City. They also need to go out and show people in the rural areas that they are not liberal loonies. They need to show them that they are Americans who want the same thing these people want—healthy families, a decent job and a home without the fear of foreclosure. I don't want to overstate the toughness that we will face in Missouri, but we have a Republican governor, even though he's not running again. We have Sen. [Christopher] Bond. I mean they're not going to lie down. So, Missouri's going to be tough. I think we can win it, but it's not going to be a landslide.

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