Superdelegates Playing Hard to Get

The Democratic nomination battlefield moves to Indiana and North Carolina. Voters in the nine remaining states are eager to have their voices heard, but a select group of Americans remains mum on their presidential preference.

Since way back in January, a record number of voters have participated in Democratic primaries and caucuses. Barack Obama supporters want to end the drama, but the Democratic Party's own delegate apportionment rules have prolonged the suspense. Millions of votes later, the nomination will be decided by roughly 300 uncommitted superdelegates who can't seem to make up their minds.

In a recent appearance on the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," Ralph Dawson, a black superdelegate from New York, was asked what it will take for him to make up his mind:

Well, Senator Obama is obviously ahead at this point, but he is not likely to get to the magic number of 2,025 without super-delegates. So we have to watch to see where this campaign goes.

Obviously, Senator Clinton is beginning to build some momentum, now, having done well in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

So we look to North Carolina and to Indiana to see whether one candidate or the other can, if you will, win on the other person's court.

So we look to see whether Senator Obama can hold North Carolina or whether Senator Clinton can make a tremendous showing there. And we look to Indiana to see whether Senator Obama can prevail in Indiana to demonstrate that he can do well in a Rust Belt state.

So the campaign continues, and I think we're learning as the process goes.

Dawson added:

I think the most important thing here is that we settle upon a nominee by the end of June. I think that, while the campaign gets a little out of control at times, on balance, this has been good for the party.

Who'd have thunk it?

More elections Coverage
+ Clinton Takes Pennsylvania
+ Michael Moore Says He's Backing ...
+ Black Political Pundits, Who's Your Favorite?
+ Democratic Debate Debacle