Obama enlists more Democratic superdelegates
WASHINGTON (AFP) — White House front-runner Barack Obama gained the backing of four more Democratic leaders Thursday to take him closer to shutting Hillary Clinton out of the race to the party's nomination.
A day after former vice presidential nominee John Edwards endorsed the Illinois senator, three members of Congress and the head of the Communications Workers of America union rallied to Obama's camp.
All four are Democratic "superdelegates" who can cast their convention vote for the presidential nominee of their choice.
The most prominent was California Congressman Henry Waxman, who as chairman of the House of Representatives oversight committee has waged war on alleged wrongdoing in the administration of President George W. Bush.
Both Waxman and another of the quartet, Congressman Howard Berman, are leaders in the US Jewish community, and their support could help Obama fend off questions about the level of his commitment to Israel's security.
"Senator Obama's vision for change has inspired tens of millions of Americans. And he's also proved that he has the experience, judgment, integrity and toughness to bring real reform to Washington," Waxman said in a statement.
"He will be an extraordinary president, and I look forward to working with him to make his vision for change the new reality in Washington," he said.
According to RealClearPolitics.com, Obama now has the support of 1,889 Democratic convention delegates to Clinton's 1,719, considerably closer to the winning line of 2,025.
The Edwards announcement punctured Clinton's short-lived boost after her landslide win in Tuesday's West Virginia primary, although the former first lady is still vowing to fight on to the end of the primary season on June 3.
The United Steelworkers union, which had endorsed the failed presidential bid of Edwards, also threw in its lot with Obama Thursday.
