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Dem Office Holders Gravitate Toward Obama

Cuts into Clinton's lead among governors, members of Congress

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2008 2:30 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Barack Obama is cutting into Hillary Clinton's lead among the most prestigious superdelegates, the Democratic Party's members of Congress and governors. Among those 313 superdelegates, Clinton has the support of 103 and Obama of 96, reports Bloomberg. Clinton maintains an overall lead of 259-212 among superdelegates, but that too is narrowing: since her victories in Texas and Ohio, she has only picked up one superdelegate while Obama has netted 9.

Underlying Obama's growing support among party officials is his electability. "All along he has been the one person McCain does not want to run against and that is still true," said Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia senator. Polls from Iowa and Kansas show that John McCain would beat Clinton but would lose to Obama—one reason that both those states' governors have thrown their support to the Illinois senator.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., points to a questioner during a news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, March 12, 2008.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., points to a questioner during a news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, March 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democratic president hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets people during a campaign stop at a Gamesa plant in Fairless Hills, Pa., Tuesday, March 11, 2008.
Democratic president hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets people during a campaign stop at a Gamesa plant in Fairless Hills, Pa., Tuesday, March 11, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., shake hands at the end of the Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008.
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., shake hands at the end of the Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb....   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Delegates on the floor at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., in this Aug. 28, 1968 file photo, during the nominating session.
Delegates on the floor at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., in this Aug. 28, 1968 file photo, during the nominating session.   (AP Photo)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., walks down the stairs on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2008.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., walks down the stairs on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks to press on the plane as he headed from Chicago to Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2008.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks to press on the plane as he headed from Chicago to Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., walks from a Senate vote on the budget, Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., walks from a Senate vote on the budget, Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
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