Even in the mist of a bad week Senator Barack Obama continues closing in on Democratic presidential rival Senator Hillary Clinton's advantage among superdelegates, building on his overall lead in the primary race. He has out gained her 10 to 6 in superdelegates endorsements since the Pennsylvania primary. Party leaders are encouraging superdelegates to pick a side by late June to prevent the fight from going to the national convention in August, and it seems some are listening as the race enters its final five weeks of voting.
Chelsea Clinton got a superdelegate for her mom while campaigning in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, just as Senator Obama’s press secretary Bill Burton sent out a statement announcing the support of Representative Lois Capps. Senator Clinton had a big jump start among superdelegates, many of whom have ties to the Clintons and backed her candidacy early on. But most of the superdelegates taking sides recently have gone for Senator Obama, who has won more state contests and also leads in the popular vote. He trails her by just 21 superdelegates, 243-264, cutting her lead in half in less than two months.
The superdelegate chase is a key piece of good news for Senator Obama in what has been a bad week. But the problems aren't stopping his ability to win support from superdelegates that are likely to cast the deciding votes in the Democratic race. Senator Clinton had stalled in drawing their support as Senator Obama won more states than she. Superdelegates are especially valuable in this race since neither candidate can get enough delegates to win the nomination through the primaries and caucuses held across the country. Senator Obama now leads in the delegate count overall 1731.5 to 1598.5. A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to win the nomination. About 230 superdelegates remain undecided, and about 60 more will be selected at state party conventions and meetings throughout the spring.
Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa said he decided to endorse Senator Obama even though his former pastor, Pastor Jeremiah Wright, has continued creating waves by making controversial statements. Senator Obama denounced Pastor Wright in a news conference Tuesday and said the pastor does not speak for him. "That's been one of the most frustrating things about this prolonged campaign, is we seemed to have gotten away from the critical issues that started this campaign during the Iowa caucuses and now it's more about the side spectacle than the issues that voters really care about," Braley said. "I'm confident that he has taken this issue head-on. He has addressed it in a thoughtful and enlightened way."
Representative Capps said it wasn't an easy decision to pick between Obama and Clinton. She has family ties to both candidates — Obama's spokesman is married to her daughter, Laura Burton Capps, who also worked in the Clinton White House. Lois Capps filled the congressional seat held by her late husband, Walter Capps, when he died suddenly 10 years ago. Bill Clinton had campaigned for Walter Capps and presided over his congressional memorial service. Capps said Hillary Clinton would be a great president and fill a dream for those who have fought for women's rights. But she said Barack Obama's call for a change in Washington was the most important factor in winning her support. "Walter once said that 'we are strongest as people when we are directed by that which unites us, rather than giving into the fears, suspicions, innuendoes and paranoias that divide,'" she said in a statement. "For years I have been waiting for a president that speaks to that vision. I believe Barack Obama may very well be that rare leader."
Two of the most important superdelegates to sign on this week come from the states that vote next — North Carolina and Indiana, which hold primaries on May 6 and are the largest states left to vote. Senator Obama got the support of Representative Baron Hill of Indiana, while Senator Clinton won the backing of North Carolina Governor Mike Easley even though Senator Obama is expected to win the state. Senator Obama had earlier gained the support of the candidates running to become the new governor of North Carolina. So the pattern continues of Clinton being supported by the old establishment and Obama gaining the support of the new regime.
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