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Obama picks ups 3 superdelegates, union endorsement

Associated Press
Posted: 2008-05-09 10:02:21
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 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."

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.

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 09:39 ET
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Recent Comments

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39 comments

mahalapril 02:29:22 PM May 09 2008

REMEMBER OBAMA' S PLAN FOR OUR U.S. MAINLAND SECURITY.HE WILL TALK WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS TO LEADERS OF TERRORISTS AND ROGUE NATIONS DIPLOMATICALLY AND BRING THE TROOPS FROM IRAQ IMMEDIATELY.HE SAID HE WILL NOT GO TO WAR BECAUSE DIPLOMACY WILL WORK.SO AFTER WE BRING THE TROOPS HOME.WE WILL SURELY BE UNDER CONSTANT ATTACKS BY THE TERRORISTS.DO YOU THINK AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ WILL STAY IN IRAQ. THEY WILL SURELY FOCUS THEIR ATTACKS ON U,S. MAINLAND.SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS OBAMA WILL NOT RETALIATE BUT CONTINUE TO TALK WITH THEM UNTIL HE IS BEHEADED.

jang9333 01:18:02 PM May 09 2008

I AM AMUSED WHEN THE MC CAIN PEOPLE BRING UP ALL HE DID DURING THE WAR, ALL HIS MEDALS ETC.

FACT, DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO A CALIFORNIA DEATH ROW INMATE, BEFORE HE WAS EXECUTED FOR MURDER???????

SO JUST BECAUSE A MAN WINS IN ONE AREA OF LIFE, DOES NOT MEAN HE WILL BE A GOOD PRESIDENT. MC CAIN IS MADE OVER BY HIS BLEACH BLOND (GREY) HAIRED WEALTHY (DRIPPING) WIFE CINDY. WHO NOW WILL NOT DISCLOSE HER TAX RECORDS? WHY NOT?? WHATS TOO PRIVATE?

MC CAIN SHOWED COURAGE AND VALOR IN VIET NAUM, AS A PRISONER OF WAR,,,,,,,, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING A PRESIDENT, UNLESS HE IS PLANNING TO GET CAUGHT IN SOME IRAQ PRISON CAMP??
GO FIGURE, HE IS JUST TOO OLD AND HOT TEMPERED, JUST LIKE B U S H !!
BRING UM ON,,,,,,, REMEMBER?

jang9333 01:08:00 PM May 09 2008

SPRING HAS SPRUNG ,
FALL HAS FELL
CLINTON WASHED OUT
MC CAINS OLDER THAN ****

A VOTE FOR OBAMA
IS A VOTE FOR CHANGE
HE MADE IT TO WHITE HOUSE
WITH ONLY SHORT CHANGE.

A LESSON TO ALL IN WHO YOU MAY CHOOSE
DONT VOTE FOR A WOMAN,
WHO SWIGGS DOWN THE BOOZE,

A VOTE FOR OBAMA
YOU'VE NOTHING TO LOSE

HE FAVORS HIS FAMILY
HE PLAYS BY THE BOOK
HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY
AND NEVER GETS SHOOK

GO OBAMA!!

thundervoz 12:43:49 PM May 09 2008

Newsflash: Obama's Votes Counted Twice in Parts of North Carolina

http://news14.com/content/top_stories/595595/mecklenburg--wake-find-vote-flaws/Default.aspx

jancf 12:42:19 PM May 09 2008

Report This! EVEN IF HILLARY AGREES TO TAKE THE VP TICKET,
We the people will NOT play along. We don't want Obama in our white house. We are voting McCain and wait for next time around to win it for Hillary. HILLARY IS OUR TRUE AMERICAN CHAMPION. VOTE HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT.
No muslim Hussein, No racists, No anti-American first lady in our white house.
________________________
LOL I somehow don't think you speak for we the people. We all have our own voices, and the rational ones don't fall for idiotic smears. You MUST have heard this crap debunked by now.
They aren't Muslims, anti-Americans or racists. I look forward to seeing Obama run circles around the admittedly patriotic McCain with his detailed knowledge of, and respect for, that very important piece of paper, the Constitution.

jancf 12:35:33 PM May 09 2008

jerseyglad 12:24:29 PM May 09 2008

Report This! i love the blogs that keep bringing up monica - that was bill's doing - how sure are you that your significant-better-half has never done you dirt?
___________________________

I agree that we aren't responsible for a spouse's infidelity. Along the same lines, we can't take credit for the spouse's accomplishments. Waxing nostalgic about the glory of the Clinton years, as though Hillary was responsible and will repeat everything good, seems equally silly.

jerseyglad 12:27:13 PM May 09 2008

repubs have more exposure on obama - they're so confident about it, they're sitting back with a smug smile before they release their bomb(s) - in a couple of weeks....VOOOOOMMM

keithcllrn 12:26:32 PM May 09 2008

mc cain =four more years in iraq five dollars a gallon

rivigara 12:25:59 PM May 09 2008

HOW MANY BLACK AND WHITE SUPERPIMPDELEGATES ARE IN THE DEMON-C-RATS PARTY? I REALLY DONT CARE, THERE IS A COMMON DENOMINATOR: THEY ARE DISHONEST, SOLD OUT AND ARE ALL STUPID.

jerseyglad 12:24:29 PM May 09 2008

i love the blogs that keep bringing up monica - that was bill's doing - how sure are you that your significant-better-half has never done you dirt?

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