2 min read
Journalism of Courage
Premium
This is an archive article published on February 11, 2008
Clinton leads with insiders, Obama racks up delegates
Clinton retains her lead among Democratic Party insiders even as Obama builds up his delegate margin with primary and caucus victories.
Hillary Rodham Clinton retains her lead among suddenly critical Democratic Party insiders even as Barack Obama builds up his delegate margin with primary and caucus victories across the country, according to a survey by The Associated Press.
Of the 796 lawmakers, governors and party officials who are Democratic superdelegates, Clinton had 243 and Obama had 156. That edge was responsible for Clinton8217;s overall advantage in the pursuit of delegates to secure the party8217;s nomination for president.
According to the AP8217;s latest tally, Clinton has 1,135 total delegates and Obama has 1,106, with three delegates still to be awarded from Sunday8217;s Democratic caucuses in Maine. A candidate must get 2,025 delegates to capture the nomination at the party8217;s national convention in Denver in
late August.
The numbers illustrate not only the remarkable proximity between the two candidates, but also the extraordinary influence superdelegates could wield in determining who becomes the nominee. Both campaigns are aggressively pursuing superdelegates, trumpeting their endorsements the moment they are secured.
8220;I told my wife I8217;m probably going to be pretty popular for a couple months,8221; chuckled Richard Ray, a superdelegate and president of the Georgia chapter of the AFL-CIO labour federation. Ray said he will remain undecided because the labour federation has made no endorsement.
8220;If they endorse, then I will, too,8221; Ray said.
Advertisement
Live Blog
PHOTOS
Top Stories
Advertisement
Must Read
Advertisement
Buzzing Now
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
Advertisement