Politics

Bill Clinton Tells California Dems To 'Chill Out'

SAN JOSE (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP / BCN) ― Allowing the Democratic presidential race to continue will not hurt the party's chances in November, former President Clinton said Sunday, urging those concerned about the deadlocked contest to "chill out" and let the balloting run its course until all of the primaries are completed in June.

Clinton made his remarks during an almost hour-long speech at the California State Democratic Convention in San Jose, after meeting privately with a group of uncommitted California superdelegates to lobby on behalf of his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Bill Clinton dismissed suggestions by supporters of Barack Obama that Hillary was damaging the party by staying in the race even though she is behind in delegates and unlikely to overtake the Illinois senator based on the contests to come.

"There is somehow the suggestion that because we are having a vigorous debate about who would be the best president, we are going to weaken this party in the fall," he said.

"Don't let anybody tell you that we are weakening the Democratic Party," Clinton told the cheering crowd. "Chill out, we're going to win this election if we just chill out and let everybody have their say." 

Obama himself said Saturday that the decision about whether to drop out is for Hillary Clinton to make.

"My attitude is Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants," he told reporters in Pennsylvania, where he is campaigning for that state's April 22 primary.

The former president flew in from Pennsylvania to make his pitch at the California convention, which attracted a large number of superdelegates, the elected officials and party insiders who will determine whether Hillary Clinton or Obama gets the Democratic presidential nomination.

Bill Clinton told the audience that his wife would make a better president than he did.

"I honestly believe... we'll have more prosperity and more growth than when I was president," he said. "I strongly believe that Hillary would be the best Commander in Chief."

Before Bill Clinton addressed the convention, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris spoke on behalf of Obama. She told the crowd that he was the better candidate because he would inspire the country and reflect back to the citizens their "best selves."

"It is Barack Obama, Californians, that has the ability to bring our nation together," Harris said. "Barack Obama will be the president who finally ends the era of fear that has been used to divide and demoralize our country."

Nearly one-third of California's 65 named delegates have yet to choose sides. Unlike the pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses, superdelegates are free to vote for whichever candidate they want.

Of those who have made up their minds in California, Clinton is far ahead, according to a survey by the Associated Press. She has 29 superdelegates to Obama's 13. Twenty-one are undecided or say they will not commit before the party's national convention in August. Two have not responded.

California will have one more delegate when the Bay Area congressional seat left vacant by the death of Tom Lantos is filled. Former Democratic state senator Jackie Speier, a Clinton supporter, is the leading candidate for that seat.

Five others will be appointed by the party on May 18, bringing the total to 71.

Clinton delivered the message of his wife's qualifications during the private meeting with 15 of the 21 undecided superdelegates before the speech.

"He talked a little bit about letting the process play out," said Christine Pelosi, an undecided superdelegate from San Francisco who attended and described Clinton as "very good, very intense."

Undecided superdelegates said they see no urgency to make up their minds, despite the campaigns' pleas.

Bob Rankin, an uncommitted superdelegate from Carson, near Long Beach, was still figuring out how to make up his mind.

While Obama leads nationally in the popular vote and in pledged delegates, Clinton won both overwhelmingly in California. Voters in Rankin's congressional district chose Obama, while his congresswoman, Laura Richardson, backed Clinton.

Rankin said Obama called him two weeks ago to urge him to make up his mind.

"He wanted to end this thing now for the good of the party," Rankin said. "I told him I was not ready to do that."

Rankin also received an invitation to attend a private meeting for superdelegates with Bill Clinton at the convention Sunday morning, but turned it down because he planned to leave a day early. He said he'll make up his mind after all the voters have had their say.

"I feel they need to be heard," he said.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.)