Now, Democrats146; influential superdelegates reconsider options

Hillary Rodham Clinton8217;s trio of victories over Barack Obama last week appears to have convinced a sizable number of uncommitted Democratic superdelegates...

Hillary Rodham Clinton8217;s trio of victories over Barack Obama last week appears to have convinced a sizable number of uncommitted Democratic superdelegates to wait until the end of the primaries and caucuses before picking a candidate, according to a survey by The Washington Post.

Many of the 80 uncommitted superdelegates who were contacted over the past several days said they are reluctant to override the clear will of voters. But if Clinton and Obama are still seen as relatively close in the pledged, or elected, delegate count in June, many said, they will feel free to decide for themselves which of the candidates would make a stronger nominee to run against Sen. John McCain in the fall.

8220;You8217;re going to see a lot of delegates remaining uncommitted,8221; said Rep. Mike Doyle, who has not endorsed either candidate. 8220;There8217;s a sense that this is going to Denver not resolved.8221;

Obama8217;s victory in Saturday8217;s Wyoming caucuses gave him an additional seven delegates, bringing his total to 1,578. Clinton won five delegates, bringing her total to 1,468, according to the latest tally by the Associated Press. Obama had 59 per ent of the votes, or 4,459, to Clinton8217;s 40 per cent, or 3,081, with 22 of 23 Wyoming counties reporting.

At the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August, there will be 796 superdelegates 8212; members of Congress, governors, mayors, and state and national party leaders who have automatic seat 8212; and more than 300 remain uncommitted.

To win the nomination, Obama or Clinton will need a total of 2,025 pledged delegates and superdelegates. That is, unless Michigan8217;s and Florida8217;s delegations, now barred because the states violated party primary rules, end up being seated at the convention. Then the winning number would be higher, depending on how many delegates the two states are awarded.

Pat Waak, who chairs the Colorado Democratic Party, expressed the view of many uncommitted superdelegates who hope the remaining primaries and caucuses will produce an obvious winner. 8220;My hope is that there8217;s a clear lead among pledged delegates and the popular vote before we get to the convention, so that the automatic delegates can reflect what8217;s happening nationally,8221; she said. 8220;I8217;m just very hopeful that it8217;s not up to us.8221;

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This Tuesday, Clinton and Obama will square off in Mississippi, with Obama heavily favored. Next on the calendar is Pennsylvania, whose April 22 primary offers the single biggest delegate haul of the remaining contests. The Keystone State tilts toward Clinton at this point.

Party rules allocating delegates on a proportional basis make it virtually certain that Obama will finish the primary season with more pledged delegates than Clinton. But neither he nor his rival can clinch the nomination without the superdelegates.

So far Clinton, with 242 superdelegates, has had more success soliciting their support than Obama, who has the backing of 210. In addition to the 719 superdelegates whose identities are already known, a group of 77 8220;add-ons8221; will be named later by state party leaders.

The potential power of these superdelegates to decide the race has conjured up fears of party bosses repairing to smoke-filled rooms to pick a nominee, but the reality is far different. These delegates have never met as a group, and the first time they do may be on the floor of the convention, along with more than 4,000 pledged delegates.

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The superdelegates are a cross-section of the party, young and old, women and men, of all races and creeds, famous and obscure.