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27.03.2008
The Puerto Rico Primary Just Got More Interesting

From CNN:

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- U.S. authorities have announced an indictment charging Puerto Rico's governor with 18 counts in a long-running campaign finance probe.

Acting U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez said Thursday the indictment also charges 12 other people associated with Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila's party.

Rodriguez told reporters that the 13 are accused of running a conspiracy to raise money illegally to pay off Acevedo's campaign debts in 2000.

So, if the Democratic race is still unresolved as of June 7--when Puerto Rican Democrats go to the polls--I guess this could be an issue, especially since Acevedo has endorsed Obama. 

P.S. By my count, Acevedo is now the second Democratic superdelegate under indictment, joining Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Are there any I'm missing?

Update: Michael Sean Winters, who knows much more about Puerto Rico politics than I, doesn't think this will have much of an impact on the primary.

--Jason Zengerle 

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:31 AM with 10 comment(s)

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mschol17 said:

Eliot Spitzer

March 27, 2008 10:10 AM

adaglas said:

I say we start a TNR Superdelegate Indictment pool.  My money's on Rod Blagojevich.

March 27, 2008 10:14 AM

adamvaught said:

No way, adaglas. If we are going to to it right, we have to auction off the Blagorgeous one. You can't declare a contest and then take the undisputed frontrunner out in one comment.

March 27, 2008 10:23 AM

Rhubarbs said:

Spitzer has not yet been indicted, and his successor has not yet confessed to being DB Cooper, so I think Hillary has no indicted superdelegates. Yet.

March 27, 2008 10:26 AM

singlespeed said:

So by applying my Hil-logic to the indicted superdelegates supporting Obama we can presume that 1) Obama cavorts with sleazy politicians and then they get caught doing something unrelated to Obama so therefore Obama is guilty of fraud and ethical parsimony and 2) Obama hasn't committed fraud but because his indicted superdelegates  have funny sounding un-American names the Obama's not really a patriot.

March 27, 2008 11:09 AM

Rhubarbs said:

adamvaught, what if we made it a name-plus-date contest? There's a difference, after all, between a Blag indictment next week and a Blag indictment in June or August.

March 27, 2008 11:11 AM

adaglas said:

Adamvaught, I can assure you my trusted associates Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine, and Joe Cini thoroughly vetted my process, and can vouch for the openness and honesty of it.

March 27, 2008 11:16 AM

stgla said:

Puerto Rico is holding its primary on June 1.

March 27, 2008 11:23 AM

rozenson said:

I say Bill Clinton is the next superdelegate to be implicated in a financial scandal.

March 27, 2008 11:35 AM

adamvaught said:

Rhubarbs,

The difference is an indictment in June or August would not be nearly as good as an indictment next week. But I see your point.

A name-plus-date contest is the way to go. But we should probably apply odds as bold predictions should pay off more. A month ago if some said “I’ve got Eliot Spitzer indicted on April 3" he would have ridiculed as moronic. Today he'd be able to charge high dollar to read fortunes.

adagalas,

Well, as long as they'll vouch for you.

March 27, 2008 11:47 AM