Published: May 15, 2008 11:51 pm         

Goode attacks superdelegate Ellsworth

GOP candidate says Democrat has ‘multiple messages for multiple audiences’

TERRE HAUTE — U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Evansville, is under fire from his opponent in the November election for his handling of his role as a Democratic Party “superdelegate.”

After the Indiana primary, Ellsworth told the media he voted for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the Indiana primary but has pledged to cast his superdelegate vote for the candidate winning a majority of votes in the 8th District, which would be New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Clinton won a majority of the Democratic primary votes in every county in Indiana’s 8th District.

“I just think it’s an example where once again Mr. Ellsworth has multiple messages for multiple audiences,” said Greg Goode, Ellsworth’s Republican opponent in the fall election.

Ellsworth is one of nearly 800 Democratic superdelegates who may ultimately decide whether Clinton or Obama wins the party’s presidential nomination.

“If both candidates stay in the race and take it all the way to the convention, then [Ellsworth] will cast his superdelegate vote the way that the 8th District voters cast theirs,” said Liz Farrar, an Ellsworth spokeswoman in Washington.

Even if the nomination is secured by Obama or Clinton, Ellsworth and all other superdelegates will still cast votes at the convention, Farrar said. Ellsworth has pledged his vote for Clinton only if she is still in the nomination race in August, Farrar said.

“If one of them [Obama or Clinton] drops out then there is only going to be one option,” Farrar said. “The convention becomes a formality at that point. … Obviously we’ll have to wait and see whether both candidates stay in the race until August,” she said.

According to the Associated Press, Indiana has 12 named superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention. Of those, seven have pledged to support Obama and four have pledged to support Clinton. The AP listed Ellsworth as “undecided.”

Also according to the AP, Ellsworth has avoided pledging to cast his superdelegate vote for Clinton by name. On Thursday, Farrar also referred only to voting for the candidate receiving the most votes in the 8th Congressional District.

Avoiding mentioning Clinton’s name is “really just to emphasize the fact that [Ellsworth’s] superdelegate vote is based on the outcome of the 8th District primary,” Farrar said. “We just wanted to be clear as far as how we characterized it.”

Ellsworth also wanted to avoid using Clinton’s name because superdelegate votes are often seen as endorsements, something the congressman wants to avoid giving, Farrar added. “We’ve been clear that [Ellsworth] views [an endorsement and his superdelegate vote] as two separate things,” she said. Ellsworth has chosen not to endorse either candidate, Farrar said.

“In terms of an endorsement, he’s just made the decision that he wasn’t going to be getting involved in the campaign and making statements … on behalf of either candidate,” Farrar said.

Ellsworth was unavailable for comment Thursday; however, he did provide a comment by e-mail to the Tribune-Star: “Because my position on the Presidential primary has been consistent since February, I haven’t had to focus on it; fortunately, that’s given me more time to focus on issues like reducing taxes, lowering gas prices, and fixing our ailing economy,” he said.

Goode believes Ellsworth, by saying he will likely vote for Clinton as a superdelegate but also saying he voted for Obama in the primary, is trying to have it both ways.

“You have to show some leadership in determining who you are going to support,” Goode said. Ellsworth is showing a “lack of leadership, even on matters within his own political party,” Goode said.

In a media statement released this week, Goode also criticizes Ellsworth for running as a conservative in 2006 and yet accepting a campaign donation from Obama, whom Goode notes has been labeled “the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate” in 2007 by the National Journal.

Accepting that contribution reveals a “sharp contradiction,” Goode said.

According to Congress.org, Ellsworth received $7,500 from the Hope Fund, a political action committee on which Obama served as chairman.

Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.