Yesterday Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) seized the superdelegate lead from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), giving him command of every aspect of his party’s presidential nomination race.
That constitutes a key milestone in the race and a shocking reversal of fortune for Clinton. Obama once was behind by more than 100 superdelegates. But according to at least two counts, more superdelegates are now in his camp.
Politico’s tally now shows him ahead of her by 270 superdelegates to 268.5, with 208.5 uncommitted. (Superdelegates from U.S. territories count as one-half.) ABC News shows him ahead by two. Clinton’s longtime connections to the Democratic machinery had given her a longtime lead among the superdelegates, the party officials who have a vote in the nomination and apparently will prove decisive in this race.
Other news organizations have similar counts, with CBS News placing him behind by one and the Associated Press saying he is behind by one-half. NBC News estimates that Clinton is clinging to a slim lead of five superdelegates. With Rep Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) now calling him “the presumptive nominee,” Obama gained nine superdelegates on Friday. Clinton gained one and lost one. [Source]