Superdelegate Lead in Sight, Obama Takes Democratic Race in Stride
Barack Obama laughs with diners while eating lunch in Woodburn, Ore., Friday, as he closed in on Hillary Clinton's superdelegate lead. (AP Photo)
Barack Obama was on the cusp of surpassing Hillary Clinton in superdelegates Friday evening, and he acted like it didn’t even matter.
As he racked up nine such endorsements, the Illinois senator trained most of his attention on John McCain. His nonchalant attitude toward his gains against Clinton highlighted the way his campaign has been treating the competition lately in the Democratic race — almost as an afterthought.
“I’m gratified that we’ve got some superdelegates that are coming our way,” Obama said Friday in Woodburn, Ore., when asked by reporters about his superdelegate gains. “Our focus has always been on the pledged delegates and just getting the American people to vote for us … but if superdelegates also feel that we’re gonna be a strong candidate then I’m very pleased with that.”
The superdelegates — Democratic party leaders and insiders not bound to support either candidate — represent Clinton’s last hope for keeping the nomination out of Obama’s hands.
While Obama downplayed it, the developments Friday left the former first lady with 272.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama, poised to close what was once a gaping deficit between him and the New York senator in that category.
Obama already has 163 more pledged delegates than Clinton, and he expects to win a majority of those delegates on May 20. If he surpasses Clinton in superdelegates, she will likely be hard-pressed to keep the rest from moving into his corner.
“This trickle will soon become a steady stream,” said Democratic strategist Dan Gerstein. “At a certain point, it’s gonna become an inescapable wave.”
Behind the scenes, the Obama camp was working to get two more superdelegates. While the Associated Press tallies showed him slightly behind, other new organizations’ tallies showed he had already surpassed Clinton.
Gerstein said the superdelegate movement could give “cover” to other undecided delegates “who are nervous or on the fence or scared of crossing the Clintons,” in turn forcing the race to an end before June 3, when the final primaries are held.
Obama, increasingly confident that Clinton cannot overtake his lead, ignored her in his prepared remarks at a Portland-area workplace Friday and pointedly criticized McCain’s economic, health and Iraq policies, saying the probable GOP nominee would continue failed Bush administration priorities.
When asked about Clinton, Obama heaped more praise than criticism on the New York senator, continuing his efforts to avoid antagonizing her or her supporters. Speaking later with reporters, Obama hinted that he might help Clinton retire her campaign debt if he prevails.
“Historically, after a campaign is done and you want to unify the party … And so obviously I’d want to have a broad-ranging discussion with Senator Clinton about how I could make her feel good about the process and have her on the team moving forward,” he said when asked about the campaign debt.
Also campaigning in Portland, ahead of Oregon’s May 20 primary, Clinton took the opposite tack, knowing she can’t take on McCain unless she somehow derails Obama. At a round-table at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, she criticized Obama’s health care plan for promising universal coverage to children but not adults.
“This is a big difference in this campaign. It’s not a difference of politics so much as commitment. … How can anyone run to be the Democratic nominee and not have a universal health care plan?” she said.
McCain said Friday he is “ready” for the general election campaign to begin.
Superdelegate Haul
As of early evening Friday, Obama had earned nine more superdelegates, capitalizing on his strong primary performance three days earlier.
The latest superdelegates to endorse Obama were Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono, New Mexico’s Laurie Weahkee (according to a local paper) and Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, Democratic Party vice chair in South Carolina.
“The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won,” said Vernon Watkins, one of two Democratic National Committee members from California to endorse Obama Friday.
The other was Ed Espinoza, who in a statement said Obama’s “judgment and character” and ability to unify the country had driven his decision. Virginia DNC member Joe Johnson also endorsed.
Clinton also gained two superdelegates.
But she lost one when New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne — a black congressman who had been backing Clinton — decided to switch to Obama. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon also endorsed.
Little more than five months ago, on the eve of the primary season, Clinton led 169-63 in superdelegates.
In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but “I think it’s very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that’s the reality of what she’s faced with. She knows that. … It’s just very hard to see how the math works.”
Obama’s endorsements from superdelegates have picked up sharply since Tuesday, when he soundly defeated Clinton in North Carolina’s primary and held her to a narrow victory in Indiana. The momentum in his direction reflects a growing sense among Democratic leaders that his nomination is inevitable.
Obama also picked up the endorsement of the influential American Federation of Government Employees union on Friday.
“Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama’s campaign,” AFGE President John Gage said.
Gage, a previously uncommitted superdelegate, said he too was personally endorsing Obama.
Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said the campaign was keeping its chin up.
“We have strong support from a number of superdelegates, he has strong support from a number of superdelegates. And we believe as do our supporters that she would be the best candidate against (John) McCain and the best president on day one,” he said. “There’s still three weeks left in these contests. We think things can change. These numbers can shift at any point.”
Clinton pledged to fight to the end.
“Of course I’m going to keep going. I’m going to keep going because you keep going,” she told a Central Point, Ore., crowd Friday.
The Clinton campaign is still lobbying superdelegates, and according to aides has a plan in place to aggressively court them, via direct mail, television spots and public rallies.
Clinton also began airing an ad in Oregon in which former CIA operative Valerie Plame and her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, say the New York senator has the strongest plan to end the war in Iraq.
FOX News’ Shushannah Walshe, Judson Berger and Aaron Bruns and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
all the superdelegates boarding obama’s train (they want to find a seat) showing how dirty politics are,a future first lady vowing she has never been proud of the country she wants to represent,a president who sat for 20 years hearing this horrible man full of hate against whites,ho but he offers change,the only change I see is someone who learned to give speeches,but when he is done, you ask what was he saying?one thing is for sure, if he is the nod,maccain will be my choice and the choice of manny people that I KNOW.