By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

With three Democratic primaries remaining, it appears that the party’s superdelegates will decide the party’s presidential nominee.

But one may wonder how long those superdelegates who have not yet decided intend to wait.

The most recent Associated Press count of delegates, including superdelegates, lists Barack Obama with 1,965 and Hillary Clinton with 1,780. The remaining primaries are in Puerto Rico on June 1, with 55 delegates at stake; and Montana and South Dakota on June 3, with 16 and 15 delegates, respectively. The AP lists that either candidate needs 2,026 delegates to receive the party’s nomination.

Barack Obama, as of last Thursday, held a two-to-one lead among superdelegates in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, but 13 superdelegates in the three states have yet to make their intentions known. Obama’s total among superdelegates in the three states was 15, with seven declared for Clinton.

Missouri

Obama and Clinton each have five superdelegates in Missouri, with six undeclared. Supporting Obama are U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, U.S. Rep. William Clay Jr., U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, Kansas City Democratic National Committee member Mark Bryant and State Auditor Susan Montee.

Superdelegates supporting Clinton are U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver II, Joplin DNC member Doug Brooks and Independence DNC member Sandra Querry.

Superdelegates still undeclared in Missouri are State Democratic Party Chairman John Temporiti, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, State Democratic Party Vice-chairwoman Yolanda Wheat, Missouri National Education Association political director Leila Medley, State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Oren Shur, spokesman for Nixon’s gubernatorial campaign, said Nixon told both campaigns that he would remain neutral.

“As long as there are two candidates in the race, he will uphold the commitment he made to both campaigns to remain undeclared,” Shur said of Nixon.

Obama and Clinton had 36 delegates each after the close Missouri primary.

Temporiti has issued a written statement announcing his intention to stay neutral, while acknowledging the likely nominee.

“As chairman of the party, I’ve felt it was important to be neutral in the presidential primary and I intend to remain so,” Temporiti wrote. “I’m not asking any of our superdelegates to endorse one candidate or the other. I fully believe that within the coming weeks the Democratic Party will come together to unite behind a single presidential nominee and all indications are that will be Senator Obama.”

Kansas

In Kansas, five superdelegates committed to Obama are Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Derby DNC member Lee Kinch, Topeka DNC member Randy Roy, Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson and State Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates. The only Kansas superdelegate endorsing Clinton so far is State Democratic Party Vice-chairwoman Theresa Krusor.

Superdelegates still undeclared in Kansas are U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore and Helen Knetzer, of Wichita, president of the National Federation of Democratic Women.

Gates announced his choice for Obama on Monday, after the state party convention had ended. He had said he wanted to remain neutral until after the convention. The state went overwhelmingly for Obama in the party caucus, resulting in 15 delegates for Obama and six for Clinton.

“I feel pretty comfortable where I’m at,” Gates said. “He has Kansas connections. His mother was a Kansan. I think he’s the best candidate because of the way he energizes young people and the Republicans who will cross over to vote for him.”

Gates said he thinks the remaining superdelegates will make their choices known within a few weeks of the June 3 primaries. He said although superdelegates may make an independent choice, probably the most compelling thing they will consider is which candidate has the most delegates. He said he doesn’t think there will be a fight at the national convention.

“I think this process has worked,” Gates said. “It’s been good for us.”

He added that there have been a few scars along the way, but those would prepare the nominee for expected Republican attacks.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma superdelegates who are supporting Obama are Gov. Brad Henry, State Democratic Party Vice-chairwoman Kitti Asberry, Edmond attorney Reggie Whitten, Tulsa attorney Kalyn Free and State Sen. Mike Morgan. Purcell DNC member Betty McElderry so far is the only Oklahoma superdelegate supporting Clinton.

Undeclared Oklahoma superdelegates are U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, Tulsa DNC member Jim Frasier, State Party Chairman Ivan Holmes and Norman DNC member Jay Parmley.

Clinton won the presidential primary in Oklahoma, receiving 24 delegates to Obama’s 14.

Frasier, a Tulsa attorney, said he would announce his decision soon after the June 3 primaries. Asked what he was considering when making his decision, Frasier said: “Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.”

“I’m watching it all,” Frasier said. “I’m looking at the whole thing very carefully.”









Saved message

Larry Gates, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party, said he received only gentle pressure from the campaigns before he made his decision. That included a voice-mail message from Barack Obama, which he saved.





Follow the link attached to this story online to learn more about superdelegates via a link to the Web site superdelegates.org.