Most superdelegates still playing waiting game

By DAVID LIGHTMAN - McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — The fight for nearly 270 uncommitted Democratic Party superdelegates shifted into higher gear Wednesday, but few were ready to pledge allegiance to Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.

Still, the pressure was on for the party leaders, activists and lawmakers who could decide the Democratic nomination to make up their minds and end the long and increasingly taxing race.

Party leaders talked privately to unpledged members of Congress, urging them to announce decisions before the final primaries on June 3.

“If this goes beyond that,” said Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., a party vice chairman, “it could lead to the perception that the superdelegates are wagging this dog.”

Obama got new support Wednesday from three superdelegates: N.C. party chairman Jerry Meek, state Democratic National Committee member Jeanette Council and California DNC member Inola Henry.

Clinton won the backing of Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., after she beat Obama in his western North Carolina district.

Most others said they will wait.

In Idaho, still-uncommitted party chairman Keith Roark said that if at the end of the primary season, “Obama has the largest total of votes, largest total of delegates and has won more primaries and caucuses than she has, I do not see how the Democratic Party denies him, the first African-American to be in that position, and survives.”

Others were more circumspect.

“I haven’t really had a chance to clear my mind and think about this since watching the election returns,” said Ed Espinosa, a DNC member and Long Beach, Calif., consultant.

“Mathematically, it doesn’t look good for Hillary Clinton. But it’s not over yet, and there are still states to vote.”

There are six primaries with a total of 217 delegates at stake, beginning May 13 with West Virginia.