Two more superdelegates back Obama

Just got this statement from the Obama camp:

Chairmen Henry Waxman and Howard Berman Endorse Barack Obama

Senior congressmen are California superdelegates

CHICAGO, IL—Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman Howard Berman, major committee chairmen and California superdelegates, endorsed Barack Obama today, citing his ability to unite the country and put and end to eight years of failed Bush policies. Congressman Waxman chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; Congressman Berman chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Both are respected leaders in the American Jewish community and major voices in Democratic policymaking.

“Senator Obama’s vision for change has inspired tens of millions of Americans,” Chairman Waxman said. “And he’s also proved that he has the experience, judgment, integrity, and toughness to bring real reform to Washington. Our nation faces big challenges. We need to bring our troops safely home from Iraq. We need to solve global warming and finally enact universal health care legislation. And we need to create new jobs and strengthen our middle class. Senator Obama is the leader we need both here and around the world. He will be an extraordinary President, and I look forward to working with him to make his vision for change the new reality in Washington.”

To view Chairman Waxman’s full statement, click HERE .

“Barack Obama has laid out a foreign policy vision driven by principle and conviction, and he understands that our moral authority and our safety as a nation go hand in hand,” Chairman Berman said. “I spoke with him about a number of foreign policy issues that most concern me. He assured me that he shares my views. The moment President Obama takes office, we’ll send a powerful message to the world that America is back and ready to lead again—that we haven’t abandoned the values that made us the light of the world, and neither should anyone else.”

The endorsements bring Senator Obama’s superdelegate total to 292.5. Obama is now 130.5 total delegates away from the nomination.

“Chairmen Waxman and Berman set the standard for leadership and judgment in Congress,” Senator Obama said. “I’m humbled to have their support and grateful to have their counsel in this campaign. They know that this will be a defining election, and they know better than anyone the grit and hard work it’s going to take to turn things around and deliver for the American people again. We couldn’t ask for two more gifted or dedicated lawmakers to lead this coalition for change.”

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

Sent from Blackberry

Comments

[deva]

Go BARACK! He is on his way to being the nominee. I hope this happens before June 1.

[simplycharming47 from Oklahoma City]

Trickle, Trickle, Trickle but GRATEFUL nonetheless.... Go Obama '08

Simplycharming47

[Jerry]

Well, looks like the leadership is finally beginning to step-up.

Party leaders have got to begin thinking ahead. Given Hillary's behavior in this campaign, we can almost predict what she intends to do. Listening closely to her interview last nite, whatever the outcome of the primaries, she intends to take this to the convention. The Rules Committee should reschedule that meeting to deal with FL and Michigan to a date right after all elections are over. Once that meeting is over, they will begin plotting on the number of people they can get to change at the convention.

Since she feels all (committed or uncommitted) delegates can vote how they want at the convention, I bet you they intend to use all of the Clinton power to pull some of the people committed to Obama their way. That is why that letter went out the other day asking delegates to just give the nomination to Hillary. Add these convention change over delegates to their existing delegates, and the added FL and Michigan delegates, and bingo . . . she wins.

Party leaders have got to plan for this ahead of time, so they can control the chaos. . .

[Razor67]

Jerry,

If you are right, and there is going to be a free-for-all at the convention, then the rules committee has to divide the Florida and Michigan delegates up 50% to 50% and not give any candidate an advantage.

[Reserved82]

The party will be destroyed if Obama goes into the convention having won all of the agreed upon categories (most delegates, most popular vote, most states won)and Hillary comes out the winner. It means there was no need to have the primaries. If she takes it to the convention, it could be bare-knuckles politics among the delegates. The Obama team will have to have a well-oiled convention strategy designed to hold all of their delegates, win the uncommitted delegates, and try to get some of Hillary's delegates.

It will be a real mess instead of a love feast!

[Betty]

The Florida Democratic party will elect its pledged delegates on Saturday (tomorrow). It will be important that Obama's people are in there.