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But the real mission of the evening was to court lawmakers -- who are also superdelegates in the party's nominating process -- especially those from some of the biggest states. And at least one, Rep. Jason Altmire (Pa.), used the session to pose the kinds of questions voters usually aim at him rather than treating it as a polite political cocktail party.
Officially undecided on which candidate to back, Altmire said he asked Clinton what she expects superdelegates to do if Sen. Barack Obama winds up winning the popular vote and more state delegates. As of last night, Obama had 1,602 overall delegates to Clinton's 1,497, according to an Associated Press tally. A total of 2,025 delegates are needed to secure the nomination.
Clinton replied that superdelegates exist for a reason and should use their own judgment about which candidate would be best in the general election. But Altmire said he is not so sure.
"If Senator Obama is in that position, it's going to be very hard to overturn that," Altmire, a freshman lawmaker from the western part of Pennsylvania, said yesterday. But he added: "She's likely to do really well in my district and in Pennsylvania, so that's another consideration." He said that he has been bombarded with calls from both campaigns, but that he does not mind.
"I really want to hear from both sides," Altmire said. "I feel an obligation to do as much as I can to get to know the two candidates."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031303648.html?hpid=topnewsGood for you congressman. BTW though Allegheny Exec Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl are endorsing Hillary today, neither is a superdelegate.
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The embrace of the two local officials may help the Clinton campaign by adding to its air of local support, but it does not bring an immediate change in the all-important delegate count.
Neither are among the superdelegates who may be crucial in choosing the party's nominee. They are likely to go to the Denver national convention as part of the group of at-large delegates that both campaigns are allowed to choose.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08074/865144-176.stm