Obama Expects to Clinch Nomination Next Week

Senator Barack Obama said on Wednesday he expected to become the Democratic U.S. presidential nominee after next after the last two primaries in Montana and South Dakota and that the general election race will begin in earnest against Republican Senator John McCain. Talking to reporters on his plane from Denver to Chicago, Senator Obama was asked if he will be the winner of the Democratic nomination at that point, he said, "I believe so." He predicted he would be in a "pretty strong position" to clinch the nomination after a Saturday meeting by party officials and Tuesday's votes. On Saturday, Democratic officials will work on a compromise over disputed nominating contests in Michigan and Florida. Senator Obama said a resolution on how to seat those delegates would be important to "put the Michigan/Florida issue behind us."

"At that point all the information will be in," he said. "There will be no more questions unanswered. I suspect that whatever remaining superdelegates will be able to make their decisions quickly after that. We're only a few days away." Senator Obama is leading in pledged delegates, and more and more superdelegates are announcing their plans to endorse him and help him surpass the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination.

In another sign that he believes he will be the Democratic Party’s nominee is that Senator Obama is planning an overseas trip this summer that may include a visit to Iraq. "I just don't want to be involved in a political stunt," Senator Obama said when asked about Senator McCain's invitation to visit Iraq together. "I think that if I'm going to Iraq, then I'm there to talk to troops and talk to commanders, I'm not there to try to score political points or perform. The work they're doing there is too important." Aides to Senator Obama have been quietly discussing a foreign trip for weeks, but the prolonged battle with Senator Clinton has delayed making firm plans.

Senator Obama, who says he would remove U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office, visited Iraq in January 2006 as part of a congressional delegation.