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Obama picks up 3 superdelegates, union endorsement

By JOAN LOWY,
Associated Press
Posted: 2008-05-09 12:10:26
WASHINGTON (AP) - The movement of Democratic superdelegates to presidential hopeful Barack Obama gained steam Friday with endorsements from a union president and two congressmen, including one who switched his backing from rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama has now climbed within a handful of superdelegates of catching Clinton in endorsements from the party and elected officials who will ultimately decide the nomination. With the three new superdelegate endorsements, the superdelegate count is Clinton, 271.5 and Obama, 266.

Obama's endorsements from superdelegates has 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 it is inevitable Obama will lock up the nomination.

"Just looking at the facts, he's the presumptive nominee," Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., said in an interview with The New Yorker. Emanuel, who worked in the Clinton White House and has home state ties to Obama, has remained neutral in the race.

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 to the Democratic National Convention, said he is also personally endorsing Obama.

In New Jersey, Donald Payne - a black congressman who had been backing Clinton for the nomination - is switching his support to Obama, Dan Pfeiffer, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, confirmed.

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon also plans to formally endorse Obama and campaign with him at events Friday in Eugene and Albany, Ore.

"Senator Obama has proven he is able to energize young Americans, independents, and even moderate Republicans to support his candidacy," DeFazio said in a statement released by his office. "I believe he represents our best hope of winning in November, and puts the needs and priorities of hard working Americans ahead of the powerful special interests that have been extraordinarily favored by the Bush-Cheney administration."

Oregon holds its primary on May 20. While polling in the state has been sparse, Obama is believed to hold a significant advantage over Clinton. With DeFazio, he will have the endorsement of three of the state's four Democratic House members. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and David Wu earlier endorsed Obama, while Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley have endorsed Clinton.

Clinton won the New Jersey primary on Feb. 5 and has strong backing from the state's congressional delegation.

"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," Payne told The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. It was "one of the most difficult decisions I have made," Payne said. "I've really been mulling it over for quite a while."

Clinton continues to pickup superdelegate endorsements, including one from a Pennsylvania congressman on Friday.

Rep. Chris Carney noted that Democrats in his northeastern Pennsylvania district supported Clinton by a more than 2-1 margin in the state's April 22 primary.

"I will respect their decision," said Carney, who represents a historically Republican district and is viewed by the GOP as vulnerable to a fall challenge.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
05/09/2008 11:53 ET
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Recent Comments

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15 comments

sweetmamajean 01:44:54 PM May 09 2008

IF OBAMA WOULD TELL US SOME OF HIS CHANGES MAYBE WE COULD VOTE FOR HIM. WE ALL KNOW WE CANT JUST GO IN AND PULL ALL THE TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ. WE WOULD LOSE TO MUCH OILYOU PEOPLE WANT CHANGE AND YOU TURN AROUND AND PUT WASHINGTON PEOPLE BACK ON THE BALLOT. CLINTON OBAMA MCCAIN ALL WASHINGTON PEOPLE THAT HAS DONE NOTHING FOR YOU. JUST GOT RICHER THEY EVEN ADMIT IT

sweetmamajean 01:32:42 PM May 09 2008

THESE SUPER DELEGATES GET TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DONT SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE GET RIDE OF THAT CRAP AND TAKE THE POPULAR VOTE ONLY. THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL WANTING TO BE IN GOOD WITH THE CANDIDATE.

beverly0817 01:22:25 PM May 09 2008

I NEVER thought I'd vote for a Republican, but if Hillary isn't on the ballot in November..............MCCAIN it is!

The Democrats have no chance of winning with Obama!

ewel4 01:20:43 PM May 09 2008

My local dog catcher will get my vote before Obama does. Ghengis Khan would have my support first.So would Ivan the Terrible and Attilla the Hun. I would not like this guy if he was pink, purple,-whatever! "A rose,by any other name,is still a rose" and this man is nothing but a con-man. ANYBODY except him. I will vote for McCain!

bkrhuey 01:18:26 PM May 09 2008

yeah you voted for that jerk corzine,and guess what we are in a worst hole now then when we were under Ms.greeley.

herbmosa 01:17:52 PM May 09 2008

The democrats have had both houses for two years and done nothing...vote for a republican to just keep balance and not the muslim rule take over. Hillary or McCain

sweetmamajean 01:17:24 PM May 09 2008

can not image a u.s. president by the name obama. american people ask for what they get. farmers in iwoa i hope all your farming money goes to inter city kids to buy guns. defense money to defend the mayor of detroit. wis there goes your welfare plan. russ looks like you win even though i dont think you really want mccain. i hope hillary doesnt take vp job. because this guy cant win in the fall

herbmosa 01:16:05 PM May 09 2008

Bush and Obama both went to Harvard, and did they join the same secret society? One harvard man is enough for this country per century...ook how bad the first one did!!

stroup1 01:14:09 PM May 09 2008

If the super delegates voted their primary winners like Obama said they should Hillary would be ahead with Super delegates so there is a double standard there, do as I say not as I do. What is wrong with these super delegates, the people are telling them who they want and they are not listening

flight354 01:11:11 PM May 09 2008

I wanted Hillary to win very badly! However, I will of course vote Obama over McCain. Too many years of Republican control has really made this country less than it should and can be.

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