The Democratic
superdelegates are starting to follow the voters --
straight to Barack Obama.
In just the past
two weeks, more than two dozen of them have climbed
aboard his presidential campaign, according to a survey by
the Associated Press, including Jason Rae, the gay 21-year-old
from Wisconsin who had been wooed by Chelsea Clinton.
"The
Democratic Party is fortunate to have two very talented
individuals running for president this
election," said Rae in a statement released by
the Obama campaign to CNN on Thursday. "It is a
difficult choice for anyone, but in the end, the
choice for me has become clear. I am proudly
supporting Sen. Barack Obama."
At the same time,
Hillary Rodham Clinton's superdelegates are beginning
to jump ship, abandoning her for Obama or deciding they now
are undecided.
The result: He's
narrowing her once-commanding lead among these
''superdelegates,'' the Democratic officeholders and party
officials who automatically attend the national
convention and can vote for whomever they choose.
As Obama has
reeled off 11 straight primary victories, some of the
superdelegates are having second -- or third -- thoughts
about their public commitments.
Take John Perez,
a Californian who first endorsed John Edwards and then
backed Clinton. Now, he says, he is undecided.
''Given where the
race is at right now, I think it's very important for
us to play a role around bringing the party together around
the candidate that people have chosen, as opposed to
advocating for our own choice,'' he said in an
interview.
Clinton still
leads among superdelegates -- 241 to 181, according to the
AP survey. But her total is down two in the past two weeks,
while his is up 25. Since the primaries started, at
least three Clinton superdelegates have switched to
Obama, including Rep. David Scott of Georgia, who
changed his endorsement after Obama won 80% of the primary
vote in Scott's district. At least two other Clinton
backers have switched to undecided.
None of Obama's
have publicly strayed, according to the AP tally.
There are nearly
800 Democratic superdelegates, making them an important
force in a nomination race as close as this one. Both
campaigns are furiously lobbying them.
''Holy buckets!''
exclaimed Audra Ostergard of Nebraska. ''Michelle Obama
and I are playing phone tag.''
Billi Gosh, a
Vermont superdelegate who backs Clinton, got a phone call
from the candidate herself this week.
''As
superdelegates, we have the opportunity to change our mind,
so she's just connecting with me,'' Gosh said. ''I
couldn't believe she was able to fit in calls like
that to her incredibly busy schedule.''
In Utah two
Clinton superdelegates said they continue to support the New
York senator -- for now.
''We'll see what
happens,'' said Karen Hale. Likewise, fellow
superdelegate Helen Langan said, ''We'll see.''
Other supporters
are more steadfast.
''She's still in
the race, isn't she? So I'm still supporting her,'' said
Belinda Biafore, a superdelegate from West Virginia.
Obama has piled
up the most victories in primaries and caucuses, giving
him the overall lead in delegates, 1,361.5 to 1,267. The
Illinois senator's half delegate came from the global
primary sponsored by the Democrats Abroad.
It will take
2,025 delegates to secure the nomination at this summer's
national convention in Denver. If Clinton and Obama continue
to split delegates in elections, neither will reach
the mark without support from the superdelegates.
That has the
campaigns fighting over the proper role for superdelegates,
who can support any candidate they want. Obama argues it
would be unfair for them to go against the outcome of
the primaries and caucuses.
''I think it is
important, given how hard Senator Clinton and I have been
working, that these primaries and caucuses count for
something,'' Obama said during Thursday night's debate
in Austin.
Clinton argues
that superdelegates should exercise independent judgment.
''These are the
rules that are followed, and you know, I think that it
will sort itself out,'' she said during the debate. ''We
will have a nominee, and we will have a unified
Democratic Party, and we will go on to victory in
November.''
Behind the
scenes, things can get sticky.
David Cicilline,
the mayor of Providence, R.I., indicated this week that
his support for Clinton might be wavering after -- he
contended -- members of her campaign urged him to cave
to the demands of a local firefighters union ahead of
her weekend appearance there. The firefighters, in a
long-running contract dispute with Cicilline, have
said they would disrupt any Clinton event the mayor attends.
A Clinton spokeswoman said the campaign would never
interfere in the mayor's city decisions.
Obama has been
helped by recent endorsements from several labor unions,
including the Teamsters on Wednesday.
''He's our guy,''
said Sonny Nardi, an Ohio superdelegate and the
president of Teamsters Local 416 in Cleveland.
The Democratic
Party has named about 720 of its 795 superdelegates. The
remainder will be chosen at state party conventions in the
spring. AP reporters have interviewed 95% of the named
delegates, with the most recent round of interviews
taking place this week.
The
superdelegates make up about a fifth of the overall
delegates. As Democratic senators, both Clinton and
Obama are superdelegates.
So is Cincinnati
mayor Mark Mallory, which is one reason his phone rings
often.
He is a black
mayor, and Obama has been winning about 90% of black votes.
His state has a March 4 primary with 141 delegates at stake.
The Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, is stumping
hard for Clinton -- and perhaps a spot on the national
ticket.
A phone call from
former president Clinton interrupted Mallory's dinner
on a recent Saturday.
''I continue to
get calls from mayors, congresspeople, governors, urging
me one way or another,'' said Mallory, who is still mulling
his decision. ''The celebrities will be next. I guess
Oprah will call me.'' (Stephen Ohlemacher, AP with
additional reporting by The Advocate)
