Obama Closing in on 200 Total Delegate Lead

Gail Rasmussen's endorsement of Senator Obama puts him at a lead of 198 total delegates (1981.5 -- 1783.5) and 44 total delegates short of the 2025.5 nomination-clinching magic number, pending the results of Saturday's Rules Committee meeting that could determine the fate of the Florida/Michigan delegations.

Obama is projected to pick up at least 40 out of 86 pledged delegates from the remaining three contests in South Dakota, Montana and Puerto Rico. It is a near lock that Obama will have enough superdelegates to reach this number prior to the last contest on June 3rd.