Obama gains delegates, moves closer to nomination

[May 24, 2008]  CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Barack Obama inched closer to securing the Democratic presidential nomination on Friday, picking up five delegates, including a California congressman who switched his allegiance from Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama "has proven himself to be a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and inspirational leader and will take America in a new direction, which we desperately need," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, who became the 14th superdelegate to switch from Clinton to Obama.

Obama has 1,970 delegates in the Associated Press tally, out of the 2,026 he needs to become the first black to win a major party presidential nomination. Clinton has 1,779.

Two of John Edwards' New Hampshire delegates, State Sen. Peter Burling and high school teacher Deborah Nelson, held a news conference to announce they were backing Obama.

In a phone interview, Burling told the AP that he and Nelson believe either Obama or Clinton would make a superb president, but it came down to "who can win and who could make a better president."

"We chose Obama because he so clearly understands the American yearning for change," Burling said. "He understands it, he embraces it, and I think he has the leadership to deliver it."

Burling said he, too, was influenced by the fact that Obama is so close to capturing the nomination.

"If it were Senator Clinton who in my mind had the edge at this moment, she would be getting exactly this kind of endorsement," Burling said.

Nelson said she has been impressed with Obama's hardworking field staff and the huge numbers of ordinary people who are supporting him, although she doesn't feel his health care plan goes far enough.

Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, had won a total of 19 delegates before dropping out of the race in January. Following Edwards' endorsement of Obama last week, 11 of them have told the AP they will back Obama.

Besides Cardoza, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., announced his support for Obama.

Jenny Greenleaf, a superdelegate from Oregon, also swung behind Obama.

[Associated Press; By HOLLY RAMER]

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