Obama Closes In On Super Delegate Lead

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the super delegate race and shows how elected officials have edged Obama back to parity, while Clinton clings to her network of party official supporters.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Among elected officials, Sen. Obama leads in endorsements from governors and senators. He is behind among House members by one, but both camps expect him to pull ahead unless he does badly in next Tuesday's Indiana and North Carolina primaries. If he doesn't stumble, enough elected Democrats are expected to back Sen. Obama after the last primaries June 3 to give him the delegate majority needed for nomination.

Furthermore, the contention that anything other than the pledged delegate count is going to sway super delegates is unlikely:

Bob Mulholland, a longtime California party official, says he "absolutely" will remain uncommitted until after June 3, so voters speak first. Then the candidate with the most delegates "is going to be in very good shape to get the superdelegates."

Many superdelegates increasingly seem to share the view that ultimately they should support the candidate with the most pledged delegates. Almost certainly that will be Sen. Obama. "They argue that if the party insiders took this away from the winner of the voters' process, that could be disastrous for the party. And I agree with that," says Mr. Achepohl, the Nebraska Democratic chairman.

You can follow the progression of super delegates updated weekly at 2008 Democratic Convention Watch.