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Superdelegate Race Turns in Obama's Favor

Ill. senator gains 25 during primary sweep while Clinton loses 2

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 23, 2008 6:41 PM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama's primary spree is swaying more superdelegates to his side: He has won over 25 of the elite voters and Hillary Clinton has lost two in the past 2 weeks, the AP reports. One California superdelegate has switched from John Edwards to Clinton to undecided, saying superdelegates must pick "the candidate that people have chosen, as opposed to advocating for our own choice."

Both hopefuls are fiercely lobbying superdelegates, mostly by phone. With a commanding primary momentum and delegate lead of 1,362 to 1,266.5, Obama urges superdelegates to follow their districts' popular vote and make “these primaries and caucuses count for something.” Clinton’s struggling campaign emphasizes their independence, saying that “these are the rules that are followed.”

Then Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, shakes the hands of supporters while answering his cell phone after leaving the Senate chambers at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., in this July 23, 2004, file photo.  Ask those who served with him in the Illinois Senate if he is ready to...
Then Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, shakes the hands of supporters while answering his cell phone after leaving the Senate chambers at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., in this July 23, 2004,...   (Associated Press)
Democratic Presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. talks on a cell phone upon her arrival at a Presidential Health Care Forum, sponsored by Families USA and the Federation of American Hospitals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Democratic Presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. talks on a cell phone upon her arrival at a Presidential Health Care Forum, sponsored by Families USA and the Federation of American...   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., respond to a question during a Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., respond to a question during a Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb....   (Associated Press)
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