According to several sources, on Tuesday, June 3, on the day of the Montana and South Dakota primaries, Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Barack Obama of Illinois will receive another superdelegate endorsement. This could be by far one of the most valuable endorsements for Obama and could throw another damaging blow to the hopes of Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.
On Tuesday, it is expected that Obama will receive the endorsement from Democratic Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina. Clyburn is the House majority whip and one of the top African-Americans in the United States Congress. It is expected that Obama will defeat Clinton in both Montana and South Dakota.
Clinton’s only hopes of even securing the Democratic nomination will lie in the hands of the superdelegates. Recently, Clinton has been eyeing the superdelegates that have pledged their support to Obama. Also, Clinton has sent letters to all superdelegates presenting the argument that she is better suited than Obama to square off against presumed GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona.
Her other hopes of trying to secure the nomination was shattered after a compromise was reached by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in regards to Florida and Michigan. Both states were stripped of their delegates for holding their primaries too early in violation of DNC rules. On the day of the meeting, Harold Ickes, one of Clinton’s strategist said that he reserves her right to take it up with the Credentials Committee.
At the same time, it is expected that Obama will receive the endorsements from the majority of the 17 uncommitted Senate superdelegates. Four of them are planning to meet. The others are going to wait for the results of the contests in Montana and South Dakota.
While Obama continues getting support, Clinton refuses to drop out of the race. She could be in the same predicament as former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who has refused to drop out of the GOP race. But, Huckabee had dropped out once McCain had won more than enough of the necessary pledged delegates.
However, it may seem unlikely that Clinton will drop out if Obama does get more than enough delegates to clinch the nomination. Clinton has told Obama’s superdelegates that they can still change their minds until August where the Democratic National Convention will be set in Denver, Colorado.
Democratic Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Democratic House Speaker of Nancy Pelosi of California plan to remain neutral until Clinton officially drops out of the race.
While winning in Puerto Rico, Clinton has claimed that she deserves the Democratic nomination.