Bredesen offers common sense to The New York Times

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BREDESEN PROPOSES 'SUPERDELEGATE PRIMARY' OPTION Sasser lauds possible solution as common-sense approach March 20, 2008 / NASHVILLE -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, in an op-ed penned for The New York Times, today outlines a possible solution to the gridlock currently facing Democrats in this year's presidential nominating process. Bredesen, one of 10 Democratic governors not yet committed to a presidential candidate, called for the national party's "superdelegates" to convene in early June -- well before the Democratic National Convention -- to settle the nomination only if it hasn't already been decided by party delegates at the conclusion of the states' primaries. The purpose of such an event: To avoid a bruising summer of intra-party warfare that, in Bredesen's words, has the potential to leave Democrats "emotionally exhausted and divided with only two months to go before Election Day." If needed, a superdelegate primary would represent "a chance to show that when confronted with an unexpected problem, we have the common sense to come together, roll up our sleeves and direct events to a successful conclusion," Bredesen writes in the Times. The Governor added: "American voters might just be inclined to reward that kind of unexpected common sense." Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser, an advisor to Bredesen, lauded the Governor's proposal and urged national party leaders to hold open the possibility of a superdelegate primary if the contest hasn't been decided by early June. "Once again, Phil Bredesen establishes himself as a governor who can see past typical Washington gridlock," Sasser said. "He's offering a common-sense solution to a problem that otherwise may not be resolved soon."

 

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