Va. superdelegate shifts from Clinton to Obama

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