‘They’re Both Electable’

What kind of response are you getting from friends and colleagues?
I've gotten some good-natured teasing by my friends who are Obama supporters and some teasing from my friends who are McCain supporters, and I probably would have gotten that teasing whether I supported Senator Obama or Senator Clinton.

What about your kids? Do they talk about it at school?
My two oldest do, a 10-year-old and an 8-year-old. They discuss the campaign and current affairs … I think it was a little bit confusing to them when they heard that I pledged support for Senator Clinton [after having supported John Edwards previously], probably not appreciating that Senator Edwards had withdrawn from the race.

What do you think about Senator Clinton's rhetoric on Florida and Michigan and comparing the effort to seat them to the abolitionists' fight against slavery?
I hadn't heard any rhetoric about abolitionists, and I'm not sure I agree with the example, but I would say I think it's important for the Democratic Party, critically important, to make sure that the voters of Florida and Michigan—not only the voters, the delegates—are counted in the process. I would encourage, and I do encourage, both campaigns to sit down and try to reach a resolution with the Democratic Party where that can be done, and, obviously, if that resolution does not give either candidate a significant advantage, more likely you're going to have an agreement. I think it would be good for the party if both candidates can do that.

Do you think this ongoing, dragged-out [nomination] process is hurting the party? Are you concerned about it?
I'm not … From a historical standpoint, I think it's not unusual. It may be unusual more in the last decade, in the last two or three elections, but I don't think it's hurting the party. I think when our candidate is chosen, whoever that may be, I, like most Democrats, are going to get behind that candidate and fully support them and make sure either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama wins in November.

Do the superdelegates need to get a move on?
… I think the fact that I've come out in support of the candidate I chose is helping the process along. To the extent that a delegate is capable of doing that and is ready to do that, I'd encourage them to do it. If a delegate is not ready to pick—if they are, as I was, highly supportive of both candidates—it's a very difficult decision and each delegate obviously has to be comfortable with the decision they make and the timing in which they reach it. But to the extent that they have made the decision, I think it helps the process if the public is aware of that decision.

Are you worried about the party alienating African-American voters if, even though Obama has the pledged-delegate lead, superdelegates pick Clinton?
You mean if Clinton were to win the nomination?