03/04/08 Neil Vigdor Of The Stamford Advocate Says, "Some push for super status for Ned Lamont"

Ned Lamont’s backers are looking to bestow a new superlative on the former U.S. Senate nominee.

Some who supported the Greenwich businessman in his upset of Joseph Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary want the party to choose Lamont as a superdelegate for its national convention later this year.

Several liberal Internet blogs are promoting Lamont, who endorsed Barack Obama and worked on the Illinois senator’s victorious Feb. 5 Connecticut primary campaign over Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a superdelegate.

They said it would be poetic justice if Lamont was chosen to be a superdelegate, because Lieberman, a self-described independent Democrat who defeated Lamont in the 2006 general election, has been stripped of the same status for backing the Republican presidential bid of John McCain.

“I think he’d be an excellent choice,” said Aldon Hynes, a former Stamford resident and Lamont supporter who runs the “progressive” blog Orient-Lodge.com.

Superdelegates have gained a lot of attention as Obama and Clinton fight to become the party’s presidential nominee. The distinction usually is reserved for party leaders and elected officials. Superdelegates could help put one of the candidates over the top if the number of pledged delegates is close for the two candidates.

Under the party’s proportional system of awarding pledged delegates, Obama claimed 26 to Clinton’s 22 in Connecticut. The state has 12 superdelegates up for grabs, as well as an “add-on” superdelegate seat that must be filled later this month.

On March 19, Obama and Clinton supporters will gather in each of the state’s five congressional districts to elect delegates. The delegates will then assemble March 26 for a state convention, where they will choose the remaining superdelegate and at-large delegates.

State Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo said the superdelegate position would likely go to an elected official.

“It’ll be a Barack Obama person, because they have the majority,” said DiNardo, an unpledged superdelegate.

A spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee said there are no rules requiring superdelegates to hold elected office or be a party official.

Lamont said he was flattered that some of his supporters are promoting him to be a superdelegate.

“That’s very nice of them. We worked hard on the Connecticut primary campaign,” Lamont said.

Although Lamont is planning to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, he said he likely will do so as an at-large delegate, not a superdelegate.

“I think that they prefer it to be an elected official,” Lamont said.

Lamont also pointed out that he has been helping the Obama campaign identify prospective delegates.

“It’s a way you reward some activists and fundraisers,” Lamont said.

Hynes, whose wife, Kim, worked as a scheduler for Lamont during his Senate campaign, said Lamont’s selection as a superdelegate would help cement his status as a key player in Democratic politics. Lamont helped bring people to the party and galvanize grassroots liberals, Hynes said.

“I think in many ways it would be a great thing,” Hynes said.

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