Superdelegates in spotlight in tight Democratic race

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March 6, 2008

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Thu Mar 06, 2008, 10:02 AM CST

By Joe Hadsall and Roger McKinney

news@joplinglobe.com

Doug Brooks will be involved in determining the next Democratic presidential nominee.

The Joplin psychologist is one of five Missouri members of the Democratic National Committee who have been named as superdelegates in the presidential campaign. The other 11 Missouri superdelegates are active and retired members of Congress and the Democratic Party.

“It is an exciting time,” said Brooks, who has given his endorsement to Sen. Hillary Clinton. “I believe she is the person best prepared to deal with the situation we find ourselves in the world.”

Randy Roy, a Kansas member of the Democratic National Committee, said she chose to support Sen. Barack Obama. Obama’s appeal to young people and the way he has conducted his campaign were the deciding factors for Roy.

Ivan Holmes, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said seven of Oklahoma’s nine superdelegates are undecided. And they all are going to get special attention from the candidates, he said.

“Clinton’s campaign figured out a couple of weeks ago that this might happen,” Holmes said. “So she’s been after it pretty hard. And we’ve had calls from Obama’s people, too.”

Not everyone is looking forward to the attention. Larry Gates, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party, said he has told the campaigns that he doesn’t want to be lobbied, and they have complied “for the most part.” He said he will remain neutral until after the state convention on May 17.

Gates said he would consider who won the state caucuses, which indicates a lean toward Obama.

“I don’t think that’s the final answer, but I’m persuaded that’s part of the equation,” Gates said.

He said he also would consider who is most electable.

“They’re both terrific candidates,” he said. “They’re both well qualified.”

Missouri’s regular delegates to the national convention are evenly split at 36 for each candidate. So are Missouri’s superdelegates: Four of the 16 have thrown their support behind Obama, and four have endorsed Clinton.

Two of the Missouri superdelegates are in leadership positions with the state Democratic Party, which has a policy of neutrality among Democrats in elections. That means, said spokesman Jack Cardetti, their votes won’t be known until the convention in August in Denver.

One of the undecided superdelegates is U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton. Spokeswoman Rebecca Loving said Skelton has not endorsed either candidate.

“And I don’t predict that he will before the convention,” Loving said. “I have a sense that he is still contemplating who to support.”

Other undecided superdelegates include state party Chairman John Temporiti, Vice Chairwoman Yolanda Wheat, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, state Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and DNC member Leila Medley.

Brooks, former U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver and DNC member Sandy Querry have expressed their support for Clinton. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay and DNC member Mark Bryant have endorsed Obama.

Uncommitted Kansas superdelegates are Gates, party member Helen Knetzer, U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore and U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda.

Kansas state party Vice Chairwoman Teresa Krusor, a superdelegate from Winfield, has committed her support to Clinton. Three other superdelegates who have made their positions known have thrown their support to Obama: Roy, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and DNC member Lee Kinch, of Wichita.

Only two of Oklahoma’s nine superdelegates have made choices. Vice Chairwoman Kitty Asburry has committed to Obama, and party member Betty McElderry has endorsed Clinton.

Holmes, Gov. Brad Henry, U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, former state Chairman Jay Parmley, and DNC members James Frasier, Kayln Free and Reggie Whitten remain undecided.