Obama picks up another Washington superdelegate

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Lake Stevens added his name Thursday to the growing list of Democratic superdelegates endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for the party's presidential nomination.

"I believe that Senator Obama is frankly the best candidate to turn our country's hopes for a better future into reality," Larsen said. "This week, Senator Obama has proven he is tough and resilient. He has shown he can take a pounding but come back and deliver to the public his message of hope and change."

There are just 217 delegates to be chosen in the final six primaries, and neither Obama nor his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, can win enough of them to claim final victory, although Obama is well ahead of Clinton and almost certainly will remain so. Meanwhile, about 260 additional delegates -- the party elders and other superdelegates -- have yet to declare their preference, and their support will be the deciding factor in who gets the Democratic nomination.

Larsen represents Washington's 2nd Congressional District, which covers Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island and most of Snohomish counties as well as the northeast corner of King County.

Other Washington state superdelegates backing Obama are Gov. Chris Gregoire, Reps. Brian Baird and Adam Smith, and Pat Notter, a member of the Democratic National Committee.

Clinton has the support of five of the state's superdelegates, including Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Reps. Norm Dicks and Jay Inslee, and King County Executive Ron Sims.

Seven are uncommitted, including Rep. Jim McDermott, former House Speaker Tom Foley and state Democratic Chairman Dwight Pelz.

Since Tuesday, when Obama easily won the North Carolina primary and finished just behind Clinton in the Indiana primary, six previously uncommitted superdelegates have endorsed him, including Larsen and Rep. Brad Miller of North Carolina on Thursday. Clinton has picked up three superdelegates in the past two days, but one of Obama's new endorsers switched from her side.

The primary results reversed the momentum of the past few weeks of the campaign, when Obama came under attack for his association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Clinton beat Obama handily in Pennsylvania.

"Tuesday was a game changer," Larsen said, adding that many uncommitted superdelegates have indicated they think it may be time to close ranks around Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois.

In a conference call with reporters, Larsen, speaking from his Washington, D.C., office, said he was impressed by Obama's integrity in rejecting Clinton's call for a federal gasoline-tax holiday this summer -- a proposal widely perceived as less about meaningful relief for consumers and more about political pandering.

Larsen also noted that Obama easily defeated Clinton in Larsen's district in the February caucuses, and that Obama continues to draw strong, grass-roots support there.

"I can tell you that he has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate," Larsen said.

Larsen said that very early in the nomination process, he leaned toward Clinton, and also considered Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who dropped out months ago.

Obama has played basketball a couple of times before reporters covering his campaign, and Larsen said that as one of those on the short list of Congress members who can run up and down the court, he wants to let Obama know he'd be happy to shoot hoops with him.

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WHERE STATE'S SUPERDELEGATES STAND

BACKING CLINTON

Sen. Maria Cantwell

Sen. Patty Murray

Rep. Norm Dicks

Rep. Jay Inslee

Ron Sims

BACKING OBAMA

Gov. Chris Gregoire

Rep. Rick Larsen

Rep. Adam Smith

Rep. Brian Baird

Pat Notter

UNCOMMITTED

Rep. Jim McDermott

Dwight Pelz

Tom Foley

Ed Cote

Eileen Macoll

Sharon Mast

David McDonald