Obama Accidentally Violates Four-State Pledge

Sen. Barack Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit Florida since the four-state pledge, which prohibits candidates from “campaigning” in Florida, a state that will hold its primary before the DNC approved date of February 5, took effect. And what did he do? He violated the pledge by holding a news conference:

Barack Obama hinted during a Tampa fundraiser Sunday that if he’s the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, he’ll seat a Florida delegation at the party’s national convention, despite national party sanctions prohibiting it.

Obama also appeared to violate a pledge he and the other leading candidates took by holding a brief news conference outside the fundraiser. That was less than a day after the pledge took effect Saturday, and Obama is the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit Florida since then.

Obama and others have pledged not to campaign in Florida until the Jan. 29 primary except for fundraising, which is what he was doing in Tampa.

But after the fundraiser at the Hyde Park home of Tom and Linda Scarritt, Obama crossed the street to take half a dozen questions from reporters waiting there.

The pledge covers anything referred to in Democratic National Committee rules as “campaigning,” and those include “holding news conferences.”

Obama seemed unaware the pledge he signed prohibits news conferences. Asked whether he was violating it, he said, “I was just doing you guys a favor. … If that’s the case, then we won’t do it again.”

Maybe he didn’t know he was violating the rule, or maybe he did. But the pledge only means something if the four designated early primary states are vigilant in enforcing it. Will the Obama campaign get a call about it?

Of course, on a certain level, the Florida press is just being obnoxious about it, trying their hardest to goad any presidential candidate into violating the pledge, making it all just look stupid:

Me: “Senator, what’s your position on a national cat fund!” (No Response) Senator, can we talk to you about the Everglades!. (No response, only uncomfortable silence from everyone in shouting distance) Senator! If you’ll only talk to people writing $1,000 checks, why should Florida Democrats support you?! (More silence) Will you take any questions!?”

Obama (shouting back): “Why are you yelling?”

Me: “Because you won’t let me talk to you! Will you talk about a national cat fund!?”

Obama: “I’m not allowed to talk to the press, guys!”

Me: “Isn’t it up to you?!”

Obama: “Nope!”

Me: “Aren’t you the guy trying to lead the country?!”

Obama: “I signed a pledge!”

Me: “Why?! (Silence) Why!?”

Hat-tip: Ben Smith.