Obama's Leaked Talking Points Include References to California Leaders

When I conveyed the news of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's support for Senator Hillary Clinton two weeks ago to Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, I was told by one of his California operatives: "This campaign is not going to be won by endorsements." But a memo obtained by Newsweek magazine yesterday shows that the campaign's hierarchy thinks quite the opposite. It is hard at work trying to score backing from movers and shakers across the U.S.
 
Two Californians are named in the talking points: Speaker Nunez and Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Pastor of the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood.
 
Nunez's name pops up in an effort to win a high-level Latino endorsement for the Illinois Senator. Obama's political staff urges him to lean on Federico Peña, Bill Clinton’s secretary of Transportation. He "would be a good high-level Hispanic endorsement, especially considering the recent endorsements of both former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez for Senator Clinton. YOU should make a hard ask for his endorsement and offer him a position on the campaign’s national leadership," according to the memo.
 
Bishop Kenneth Ulmer's name surfaces in this regard: "Bishop Ulmer is very interested in your candidacy," the talking points note. "His primary concern is that your campaign is about more than politics, and that you will be interested in a relationship with him whether or not you win."
 
Then the staff gave Obama a suggested script for his conversation with Ulmer: "Bishop, it’s good to connect with you. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you for a while. How’s everything going at the church? I’m looking forward to worshipping with you all very soon. Have you been following the campaign? How do think we’re doing so far?"
 
The suggested script continued, "Bishop, my campaign is about integrity—returning integrity to the political process, and treating people’s needs with integrity. I understand that’s the same approach you’ve taken in your ministry for a long time. I think we have a lot in common. Bishop, I’d be honored to have you on my team. I would like you advising me on the landscape in California and how to approach the religious community nationally. Can I count on your support and guidance?"
 
As of today, neither Peña nor Ulmer have endorsed Obama.

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