Baron Must Feel Insufficiently Bribed to Pick Presidential Candidate Just Yet

From the News & Tribune:

Hill, who was in Clark County on Friday to file for re-election, said he’s not ready to endorse Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or Barack Obama, D- Ill. — the two major candidates still left in the Democratic race for the White House. Although, he said, he may offer his opinion before the campaign’s end.

Voters in more than half of U.S. states have weighed in and the party is no closer to having a nominee. Obama — who’s won the last 11 contests and holds a small delegate lead — is seen as the front-runner by many national pundits.

In recent presidential elections, nominees for each party have been all but decided by the time Indiana’s May primary took place. Hoosier votes could have more influence in 2008 because of the close contest.

Hill’s position on the race is important because he’s what’s known as a super delegate — free to support either candidate.

As I noted last week, Baron Hill has received money from both Democratic candidates (more from Obama than Clinton).

But he has only received $15,000.

On the menu of prices, $12,500 (the amount given by Obama) appears to be just enough to get Baron's wife to wear a t-shirt for your campaign.

That same menu indicates that $30,000, when given by a lobbying client to his former employer, was enough to get that client a juicy lobbying contract.

On the basis of that pricing menu, I suspect that obtaining Baron's vote at the Democratic National Convention will not come cheap.