Three Arizona superdelegates avoid stepping out

As the Democratic primary winds down and Barack Obama more than likely moves towards the nomination tonight, it is worth looking at the three superdelegates in Arizona who avoided taking a stance. 

Democratic Party Chairman Don Bivens is uncommitted, and of the three uncommitted he probably has the best reason to remain so.  His Governor is with Obama, some of his biggest donors are with Hillary Clinton and his delegation is split.  The party is going to need a peacemaker when this is done and Bivens will be able to be that person.  Bivens also joins about 1/3 of his fellow Democratic State Chairmen who are uncommitted.

Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords has been consistent from the start. Giffords has said for a while that she was going to wait until after the last primary vote was cast before she would declare a candidate.  Giffords has been consistent, but the fact she has been unwilling to step up to the plate to make an endorsement until the rest of the party chooses the candidate can draw questions into her willingness to take a stance.  If Giffords wanted to go with Clinton, as her district did, then her plan backfired because now with Obama winning the nomination she will probably end up going that way with the rest of the delegation.  If Giffords wanted to go with Obama then her plan worked out because she did not have to go against her district.  But either way it was not exactly a profile in courage.

Attorney General Terry Goddard had no reason to wait and let the rest of the party decide.  He was in the position to give the party another voice in the process, but he decided to punt.  Goddard’s decision was purely for political reasons.  Goddard wants to be Governor and is going to do everything he can not to upset any members of the party he will need in a primary battle. 

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