When the Democratic presidential primaries end today with the contests in South Dakota and Montana, Barack Obama will likelyremain just short of the number of delegates he needs to clinch the nomination.
But the remaining uncommitted superdelegates are expected to fall into the Obama camp as early as Wednesday. Members of the Democratic National Committee, as well as House and Senate leaders, will push to “wrap this up in June,” said a top House Democratic aide.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign will very likely be over this month, perhaps as early as this week, or else she might face the humiliating prospect of her own delegates abandoning her, according to superdelegates and even some of her own aides.
Polls give Obama a healthy lead over Clinton in Montana and South Dakota, but only 31 delegates are up for grabs in the two states, meaning that Obama will fall short of the 43 additional delegates he needs to reach 2,118 and win the nomination. As a result, unpledged superdelegates were feeling pressure from the Illinois senator’s team Monday.
Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., one of about 200 remaining unpledged superdelegates, told The Associated Press that the Obama campaign asked for an early commitment so the senator could declare victory tonight. That means Obama was looking to add more than 20 superdelegates before 10 p.m. EDT, when Montana’s polls close.
“He apparently is telling people that he has the numbers, and that’s what’s going to happen, at which point it would become moot what the rest of us do,” said Altmire, who has vowed to wait until after voters have spoken to announce his choice.
Timing aside, superdelegates have begun to coalesce around Obama. According to those who took part in group discussions Monday, a wave of endorsements is expected by Wednesday that will push him close to or over the threshold.
Among the superdelegates who plan to make an announcement shortly is Ben Johnson, a former White House aide to Bill Clinton who was listed by the Clinton campaign in February as having endorsed her candidacy.
“They said I was endorsing her but I have not decided what I’m going to do,” Johnson said, adding that Clinton’s chances look bleak. “Let’s face it, I don’t think there is any way she can overcome him.”
Even her own backers have signaled it is time for Clinton to support Obama. Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Clinton’s campaign co-chairman, told The Associated Press she needs to acknowledge that Obama is the nominee and “get quickly behind him” after today.
Clinton will deliver her post-primary speech in her home state of New York, another indication she could be preparing to announce the end of her candidacy.
“If she decides to stay in, she’ll start losing superdelegates,” veteran Democratic consultant Tad Devine said. “That, if anything, will decide the case for her.”
