RICHMOND
Sen. Barack Obama nabbed a Virginia superdelegate from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday.
Jennifer McClellan, a state legislator from Richmond, became the first Virginia superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention to switch her support from Clinton to Obama.
She joined a growing list of observers from across the nation who say, in the wake of Tuesday’s primary elections in North Carolina and Indiana, it is all but impossible for Obama to lose his lead in pledged delegates and total votes won this year.
“It’s time to come together as a party and support Sen. Obama and prepare for a victory against John McCain in November,” she said during a telephone news conference.
She was joined on the phone by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat who has been leading Obama’s campaign in Virginia and stumping for him nationally. “It was a tough call for Jen to make, but it was ultimately the right call that all of us should be making for our party,” Kaine said.
McClellan and Kaine stopped short of calling on Clinton to withdraw.
The nation’s 795 superdelegates will make up almost 20 percent of the 4,049 delegates to vote at the Democratic National Convention in September. Virginia has 16 superdelegates, and no one else appeared to be switching. Four are committed to Obama, and four back Clinton. The rest are uncommitted or their preference could not be determined as of Wednesday.
The remaining Clinton backers, including Del. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, said they are standing pat.
McClellan notified Clinton’s campaign of her decision and expects to talk to the New York senator by phone.
“It will be a difficult conversation,” she said.
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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contractorva
That comment from Mrs. Obama bothered me also, but I wasn't thrilled about Mrs. McCains response either. I was also bothered by Senator BO when he won the VA primary. "Our day has come" speech. What day is that and just who was he talking to?
Mrs Obama
One could hardly expect everyone to be proud to picture Mrs Obama as First Lady, since she has only been proud of us since February. She was born in 1964..It could take 43/44 years or so to respond in kind...in her case.
"Here let me say how proud we ought to be, young & old alike..."
Winston Churchill.........(American Citizen... By Presidential Proclamation{JFK} April 1963)
TR
I can't explain my gut feeling about Mrs Obama, and it's just that a gut feeling.
George, whats your problem with the first lady ?
George, whats your problem picturing Michelle Obama as the first lady?
picture Mrs. Obama as First Lady
You get repeating this thought in your posts but you never explain yourself.
In this comment
In this comment race has nothing to do with it, but picture Mrs. Obama as First Lady. VA went with Obama, and I'll never understand why. Obama is a mistake at this time in History. Clinton has never been a quitter and I admire her fight all the way to the convention. That's what this country is all about, it certainly isn't about quitting or asking her to give up.
Chris
All of the OBX voted for Clinton. Here in Currituck only 33% of the electorate turned out. About twice as many D's voted than R's. Clinton won 59.32% to 33.7%. We did our part.
McCain it is.
democratic primaries
Clinton is putting her ambition ahead of the party's interest. It is time the party puts pressure on her to endorse Obama. She is already behaving as a sore loser.
"Women" and Children get to leave "First"
I voted for Obama in the "primary" to get rid of "Clinton"!!! When Obama wins the primary I will switch my vote to "McCain" in the "real" election. My policy is simply Women and Children go first and then Obama!!! Saving McCain for president!!! This election is bound to be "Racial" no matter what!!!!!
Cindy the drug addict
John McCain and his drug addict wife will never be president.
huh
This is news?
Clinton is no quitter
It's to bad some superdelegates are. Obama as the nominee will only give votes to McCain, and Obama as president will be a huge and scary mistake. Some people who voted for hgim in the primary already wish they could take back their vote.