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More Pa. superdelegates line up behind Obama
Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Two Western Pennsylvania Congressmen -- U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle and Jason Altmire -- have become the latest Pennsylvania superdelegates to throw their support to Sen. Barack Obama for the presidency.

Mr. Doyle, D-Forest Hills, issued a statement this morning saying he'd delayed making a decision until the primary season ended yesterday, but now Mr. Obama has "won this nomination fair and square."

"I believed that the most important thing our party could get out of this primary was an open and transparent process that reflected the will of the Democratic voters. I think the Democratic Party has accomplished this," he said.

This afternoon, Mr. Altmire, D-McCandless, also added his name today to the list of superdelegates supporting Mr. Obama. In a carefully worded statement, however, he seemed to go out of his way to not to affront voters in 14th District who went for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton by a 30-point margin.

"A formal endorsement is no longer necessary," Mr. Altmire said. "The Democratic primary is over and I am going to support the nominee who was chosen by people who voted across all 50 states over the past five months. I expect the vote at the convention to be uncontested and that our party will be fully united behind Senator Obama."

Mrs. Clinton has so far declined to concede the nomination to Mr. Obama.

The announcements from Mr. Doyle and Mr. Altmire leave only one uncommitted Pennsylvania superdelegate -- Rep. Tim Holden, D-Susquehanna. He could not be reached for comment.

Rep. Bob Brady, D-Philadelphia, threw his support to Mr. Obama last night, shortly after the polls closed in Montana and South Dakota.

Superdelegates are party leaders and political insiders who can support whomever they please at the convention.

First published on June 4, 2008 at 11:47 am