August 20, 2008

Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General
P. O. Box 20207
Nashville, TN 37202-20207
VIA FAX: 615.741.2009

SUBJECT: Solicitation to Violate TCA 2-13-317 Binding Effect of Presidential Primary

Dear Attorney General Cooper:

Here in Tennessee, obeying the above-cited law means that pledged delegates selected as the result of votes cast
for Senator Clinton in the Presidential primary election must vote for her during first-round balloting at the nominating
convention of the Democratic Party. But in what can at best be interpreted as an overzealous advocacy on behalf of
Senator Obama, in states throughout the country, including Tennessee, proponents for his nomination have
bombarded Senator Clinton’s delegates with subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to commit to switching support to
him, before the convention. Or, failing that, they replace the Clinton-pledged delegate with one loyal to Obama. (See
examples below. Note that while the first link shows the copy of a letter Senator Obama’s campaign sent to pledged
delegates in Georgia, they distributed this same letter to delegates in all states. And Georgia, like Tennessee,
mandates pledged delegates to follow their candidates into the convention.)

Therefore, in Tennessee (and Georgia, and California, and Indiana, and numerous other states), encouraging
delegates entrusted with representing the political preference of Clinton voters to pledge their support before the
convention to Obama solicits these delegates to break the law. As a concerned citizen of Tennessee, I am bringing
this matter to your immediate attention, anticipating you will take appropriate action to ensure that from now on, any
campaigning in this state related to the upcoming Democratic National Convention is consistent with Tennessee
laws.

Sincerely,

References: “Bearing Witness” (posting of letter from Khalil Thompson, Obama for America, Chicago)
http://heidilipotpourri.blogspot.com/2008/08/bearing-witness.html

Clinton supporters protesting removal of delegate at Democratic National Convention

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/WHAS11_POLITICS_080814_CLINTONOBAMA.486a4d97.html

“Explain, Dems tell Clinton delegate” (article on state party efforts to discipline Colorado delegate
for Clinton for refusing to switch to Obama)
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10170139

Copy: Riley C. Darnell, Secretary of State

VIA FAX: 615. 741.7310

Gray Sasser, Chair, Tennessee Democratic Party

office@nhdp.org