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Obama picks up superdelegates; undecideds moving his way
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press
May 8, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Clinton met with undecided superdelegates at Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday. She said, ''We talked a lot about Florida and Michigan,'' two states that she won but don't have any delegates to count toward her total because their early primaries violated party rules. ''I continue to emphasize and stress that we cannot disenfranchise those voters.''
Clinton said later that she would be sending a letter to Obama and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean expressing her belief that seating the Florida and Michigan delegations is a civil rights and voting rights issue.
Obama was to make his pitch to the congressional fence sitters in meetings Thursday. He also planned to start traveling to swing states to signal that the general election has begun.
Superdelegates supporting Obama recently have given a number of reasons. They recognize he is the front-runner and want to end a divisive party fight. They were impressed with his handling of a crisis that confronted his campaign in the comments of his former pastor. They don't want to risk alienating black voters who are excited about Obama's chance to become the first black president. They simply think Obama would be a more attractive choice at the top of the ticket.
''I think that Senator Obama is going to be a tremendous boost for down-ballot races in North Carolina,'' Meek told the AP. ''He's going to turn out segments of the electorate -- particularly young people and African-Americans -- who have historically low turnout levels. That will help candidates up and down the ballot.''
Nancy Worley, Alabama's former secretary of state and the state Democratic Party's first vice chair, said she got calls Wednesday morning from Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine -- both Obama supporters.
''It appears that the Obama supporters, just from my perspective, are working a little harder at getting commitments,'' she said. Clinton's campaign has mainly used letters and e-mails, with occasional calls from staffers, she said, while Obama has used more of a ''personal touch'' with direct phone calls.
Nonetheless, she said she still hasn't been convinced one way or another even though she said she would be reluctant to vote against the pledged delegate leader. That is almost certain to be Obama.
Arizona Democratic Chairman Don Bivens also appeared closer to backing Obama after receiving e-mails from both camps Wednesday.
''The Obama one was more fulsome and sort of laid out the mathematical facts,'' Bivens said. He said the Clinton e-mails were from multiple individuals sharing why they thought she was the best choice.
''I'm still uncommitted, but I do believe that yesterday's results put me at a decisional plateau.'' He said the rest of the contests' outcomes are more predictable. ''I think that we're at a point where the track got shorter and you can see the finish line.''
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Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher, Ann Sanner, Ben Evans, Kim Hefling and Liz Sidoti in Washington, Matt Mygatt in Albuquerque, N.M., Mike Baker in Raleigh, N.C., and Bob Lewis in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
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Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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