Clyburn: Obama now ahead on superdelegates

By JOHN O’CONNOR - joconnor@thestate.com

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn said sources in the "Obama camp" have told him that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama from Illinois has taken over the lead among unpledged Democratic delegates, the so-called "superdelegates."

During a conference call with reporters Clyburn said Obama has converted a number of superdelegates previously pledged to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton from New York, and that Obama took the lead in superdelegates this morning. Clyburn could not remember where the information had come from.

Many news agencies' latest survey of the roughly 700 superdelegates showed Clinton holding the lead by just a few delegates. The Associated Press had the superdelegate count Friday morning as Clinton with 271.5 superdelegates and Obama 266 superdelegates.

"We saw some movement yesterday," Clyburn said, noting at least three delegates who switched this week. "There were some switches yesterday." Clyburn also said that he and other members of U.S. House leadership had no plans when they would endorse a candidate as superdelegates, but that he, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland and other House leadership would decide together when to endorse.

Superdelegates are the more than 700 elected officials and party leaders who can award delegates. Obama leads Clinton by more than 100 delegates. Either could win the nomination by earning 2,025 delegates.