Obama Wins Over 5 Superdelegates Monday, 2 More So Far on Tuesday

In the run-up to the Oregon and Kentucky primaries (52 and 51 pledged delegates respectively), Senator Obama has racked up at least another seven superdelegates. Senator Clinton has not garnered a superdelegate since California DNC superdelegate Umemoto announced for her last Friday.

The seven supers for Obama:

Two members of the Alaska superdelegate pool, DNC members Cindy Spanyers and Blake Johnson. These two superdelegates were the last two uncommitted in the state, although the Alaska add-on delegate will be named on May 23rd. Alaska has four automatic superdelegates (Obama leads 3-1) and one add-on superdelegate.

Bookending Kansas Lieutenant Governor Parkinson's endorsement of Obama over the weekend as an add-on delegate, Kansas Democratic Party Chair Larry Gates has also announced for Obama.

Another State Chairman, this time Washington's Dwight Pelz, also came out for Obama. This development may net another two add-on delegates for Obama on June 15th when the state of Washington holds its state convention. Pelz, as State Chairman, will make the nominations for the add-on delegates to be voted upon by the State Committee. As we've seen before, State Chair decisions play heavily in deciding who the add-on delegates will be for certain states.

As Senator Obama prepares to accept the results of the Oregon primary today in Iowa, it is fitting that he would also pick up the support of Iowa Democratic State Chair Scott Brennan.

Just a few weeks after Obama squeaked out a win in Guam by seven votes, he has now picked up the support of Guam superdelegate Madeleine Bordallo.

Finally, and most importantly, the second of West Virginia's Senators, Robert Byrd, has endorsed Senator Obama's candidacy for President.


And another Michigan Superdelegate for Obama

And to put this out there, Michigan superdelegate Eric Coleman, Oakland County Commissioner, has endorsed Obama. While this endorsement doesn't mean much today, it may mean a lot more if the Michigan delegate is allowed to be seated at the Convention. This announcement makes the invalidated superdelegate count from Michigan to be Clinton 8, Obama 4, Undeclared 16, with two add-on delegates to be named on June 14th.

Obama Picks up another Fantastic Four: Senator, Congressman, State Chair and DNC Super Declare

Four new superdelegates are in the Obama column, raising him above Senator Clinton in the superdelegate count by NBC's estimation, and expanding his lead in other news services' counts.

The day started off with Hawai'i DNC superdelegate Dolly Strazar making her announcement, citing the need to rally behind Obama and to support her state's 'favorite son', who won the Hawaii contest handily.

Later, Congressman Tom Allen from Maine threw his support to Senator Obama, hoping that his announcement and the announcements of other superdelegates would help bring the primary to a "graceful end".

Back in Hawai'i, previously uncommitted Senator Daniel Akaka decided to endorse Obama as well:

Rather than echo his supporters or review his platform on health care, the
environment, or the war in Iraq, I want to add a different voice to those who
believe Senator Obama would make a fine President. He is the antidote we need to cure Washington of the uninspired, partisan politics that has plagued our country far too long.

What makes him uniquely qualified? A March 2008 feature in Vanity Fair magazine offers a clue: “He was born and came of age in Hawaii, the 50th state and in many ways among the freest‑thinking, where mixed‑race ancestry is …a given... If Obama comes across as a bit of a softy—if you don’t see the toughness or the ambition at first—it may be in part because he spent his formative years in a place where ‘Live Aloha’ had not yet become a slogan aimed at recapturing a more gracious time, but was simply a way of life.”

I have great hope, that in his own way, Barack Obama will achieve what I have
been working to accomplish my entire Congressional career, more tolerance and
understanding, an appreciation for common goals and interests, rather than an
emphasis on our differences.

The fourth superdelegate to announce for Obama today is Idaho State Party Chair R. Keith Roark, whose decision gives Obama a clean sweep of (four) Idaho superdelegates in the primary. If Obama's tremendous 79%-17% victory in Idaho wasn't enough of a factor, former President Clinton's recent comments deriding Idaho's role in the Democratic Party probably sealed the deal.

Obama now leads Clinton in Pledged Delegates (1590 - 1426), Superdelegates (279 - 276.5) and as a result, in Total Delegates (1869 - 1702.5).

Senator Bingaman (NM) endorses Senator Obama

According to the Obama Campaign's website, Senator Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico) has endorsed Senator Obama.

This latest endorsement adds another superdelegate to the Obama column, and makes the score 5-2 since the Pennsylvania primary.

Furthermore, this endorsement adds another elected officeholder to the Obama column.

Update to the some totals:

Superdelegate #228 for Obama (excluding add-on delegates)

Cuts Clinton lead in Superdelegates to 25 (excluding add-on delegates)

Cuts Clinton lead in unpledged delegates to 21 (superdelgates + add-on delegates)

Extends lead in TOTAL Delegates to 133

Reduces number of uncommitted superdelegates to 238

Obama increases lead over Clinton in elected officeholder superdelegates to seven (107-100).

Obama collects the 15th endorsement by a United States Senator of 32 available. Clinton stays at 10 in this category, with 7 undeclared.