Search, view and share videos about news and entertainment from around the Web.
See Videos »

Blog Chatter

NEWS ALERTS

Get the latest updates sent straight to your inbox.

Sign up to receive AOL News alerts by e-mail.

Obama picks up 5 superdelegates, union endorsement

By JOAN LOWY,
Associated Press
Posted: 2008-05-09 13:28:45
WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Obama picked up the backing of five superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.

In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

Clinton also gained a superdelegate.

The developments left the former first lady with 271.5 superdelegates, to 268 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.

In addition to Payne, Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and two members of the Democratic National Committee from California announced they were supporting Obama.

"The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," said Vernon Watkins, one of the two.

So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," he said in a statement.

"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," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard. Clinton's new supporter was Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.

Despite Watkins' assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.

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 13:12 ET
Bookmark

Recent Comments

1 - 10 of 11
11 comments

ssas1991 03:05:17 PM May 09 2008

dems hanging themselfs again. they are their own worst enemy.

jeep050 02:53:11 PM May 09 2008

Delegates and super delegates keep your votes to yourself until WE THE PEOPLE vote!!!!!

jeep050 02:51:32 PM May 09 2008

I love how some Obama supporters say if you don't vote for him you are a racist...uh..what ever happened to let the best man...i(n this case woman)...win!!!!...Because you don't get a job...(I have not gotten everyone I applied for)...but I don't blame it on my race or gender or religious affiliation......there is a real racist attitude here. with many of Obamas supporters here and on other comment boards....start taking responsibility for yourself...quit blaming others...get the EXPERIENCE or credentials to make yourself THE #1 candidate for the job!!! I believe Obama does NOT have the Experience or credentials...Pure and simple!!!!....if both his and Hillary's resumes came across my desk...he would not be my choice...we do not have the time to train someone for our jobs....they have to be able to take over DAY 1 too!!!

jeep050 02:50:30 PM May 09 2008

Obama gets passes on most everything and his comments are minimized, Hillary gets nailed...even on simple FACTS....AND... the media and OB supporters appear to go to great lengths with far fetched sling attempts to maximize THEIR negativity!!!! What a frenzy of don't look, don't tell.......we just want change with Obama.....!!!????? Blind FAITH!!!...BLIND FAITH!!! When he said before,.. Wrights rantings were "just silly", Redzko..."just a stupid mistake"....he got passes, passes, passes, because of half baked explanations...who is REALLY behind this...FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!....funding Public Relations and Media blitzkrieg!!!!!! Let's question him further and ask for the truth...REAL answers, REAL TRUTH, on Wright, Redzko, Ayres, the gay guy, his crack use, his wife's bitterness, not a sermon twisted to sound good, but leaving LOTS of unanswered questions...Americans want change so bad....and unfortunately they are willing to overlook too much.....BLIND FAITH!!!!! Wake Up America...be

lmitchell75 02:46:20 PM May 09 2008

How can Carney put his support behind Obama when his district voted "overwhelmingly" for Hillary????????

I'm still wondering why the superdelegates are even allowed to voice their support before the end of this - aren't they supposed to represent their districts??? And if Hillary is still actually ahead of Obama in the number of delegates why is she the one the media and other democrats are saying should quit????

If Obama gets the nomination the democrats deserve to lose - again. Hillary should run as an independent.

I'm also still wondering why the media hasn't printed anything about the Larry Sinclair claims. Yes, it may be a lie, but 9 times out of 10 when this happens, it turns out the accuser was telling the truth - Baker, Taggert, (sorry Hillary) Bill Clinton, the guy in the bathroom soliciting homosexual relations, Vito, Limbaugh and the drugs.....the list is endless. Shouldn't the media at least acknowledge it and check it out?? Why are they so afraid of saying anything

budoinst 02:45:21 PM May 09 2008

IDIOT superdelegates. When Obuma is crushed at election time the Democratic party will see the error of their ways and so will Democrats throughout America. By the way, I am a Democrat (or was).

ddsmith43081 02:38:57 PM May 09 2008

WE NEED A STRONG EXPERIENCED WOMAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

I deserve your vote to be president.

I served eight years as the first lady - working on policy issues and being involved in the day to day working of the presidency.

I served two terms as wife to a governor, also working on policy and promoting an agenda to help children and women.

I have the experience to be your president!

Vote for me.

LAURA BUSH

j10r46 02:37:15 PM May 09 2008

Sen Obama has shown that he can run a dignified campaign, and still come out ahead. His opponents have tried every shenanigan known to man, yet he stayed true to his principles.
Confronted by a lying opponent who screeches, screams and scuffles and an (ex) president whose morality is defined by his use of the oval office to smear himself, Sen Obama has ran a respectful campaign that deserves to go into the annals for bringing badly needed positive values to our society.

hebert1218 02:27:01 PM May 09 2008

Obama,McCain,Clinton.... does anyone with the slightest amount of realism actually think any of these people really give a good crap about how what they do affectts us Americans? Do you think they remember they work for US? Do you think they would do anything and say anything to get and or stay in power??? The ansers are No No and a vigorous Yes! and one final thought... Why do you think it is set up that running a campaign costs so damn much money??? To Keep the Average, Real Americans from entering into Elections!

ddsmith43081 02:08:12 PM May 09 2008

Bill Clinton Switches to Obama - Andy Borowitz, 05.09.2008

Sources close to the former president said that Mr. Clinton had been mulling such a defection as early as the night of the Iowa primary, but that he only decided to make his decision public today.

1 - 10 of 11
11 comments

Add your own Comments

A former cop  known for playing a cop on a popular TV show is arrested on a weapons charge. A former cop known for playing a cop on a popular TV show is arrested on a weapons charge.
1 of 8

* Want the latest Hot Seat polls delivered to your Vista desktop? Hot Seat Vista Gadget »

Top News Photos

Relatives carry the body of photographer Ashok Sodhi for cremation in Jammu, India, on Sunday. He is believed to be the sixth journalist killed since the outbreak of fighting in Kashmir in 1989.
Channi Anand, AP

Relatives carry the body of Ashok Sodhi in Jammu, India, on Sunday. The photographer was the sixth journalist killed in Kashmir in 1989.

Top Videos

News Bloggers

Ada Calhoun
Dinesh D'Souza
Mo Rocca
Ben Greenman
The Young Turks