ANNAPOLIS (AP) — After months of staying undeclared as a Maryland superdelegate, John Gage admits this much: He’s “kind of getting itchy” about endorsing a candidate.
Mr. Gage is one of 10 Maryland Democratic superdelegates who have yet to pledge their support for either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama, even after key primaries on Tuesday in North Carolina and Indiana.
Mr. Gage, who is president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said he hopes to make a decision in the next couple of days, after talking to the AFGE board and other unions. It’s been a tough call, Mr. Gage said, because Mrs. Clinton has been supportive of federal workers, while many union members admire Mr. Obama’s enthusiasm.
“It’s just been a tough thing, but I think a lot of people are going to be very sensitive to the Democrats’ right to vote out there,” Mr. Gage said, referring to six upcoming primaries.
Although none of Maryland’s uncommitted superdelegates budged publicly after Tuesday’s primaries, Mr. Gage isn’t the only one who’s getting closer to a decision in wake of the results.
Gregory Pecoraro said he needs “a few more days” to see how people react to Tuesday’s primaries. He believes the race for the nomination has become “pretty difficult” for Mrs. Clinton, and he needs to hear a “compelling argument” why superdelegates should support her.
“I think this is sort of the last chance for her to do that,” said Mr. Pecoraro, a Westminster City Council member.
Mr. Obama got a lift in the Maryland superdelegate hunt on Monday, when state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor and Lauren Glover, the first vice chairwoman of the state party, publicly endorsed the Illinois senator.
Maryland has 29 superdelegates, including two “add-on” delegates chosen by the state party on Saturday. Ten are backing Mrs. Clinton, and eight are supporting Mr. Obama. One has not returned repeated phone calls seeking comment.
Not all of the state’s uncommitted superdelegates feel a sense of urgency to announce their support.
Rep. John Sarbanes said he’s deliberately remained uncommitted to “gather in as much input as possible from the voters as they were making their decision.” He said it could take a “few more weeks to finish the process.”
“I think the process has been a very good one and important for people, and we’re now beginning to see some closure happening and I’m going to just keep listening to the voters,” Mr. Sarbanes said.
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, the House majority leader, said yesterday that he doesn’t have a timeline for making an endorsement because people are still voting in primaries, and he’s interested in watching how those contests go.
“I just don’t see any need to do so at this point in time,” Mr. Hoyer said about announcing a decision to back a candidate.
With five state primaries left between May 13 and June 3 and the primary in Puerto Rico on June 1, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin said he’s waiting until the end of the month or the beginning of next month to weigh in with his endorsement — after the bulk of the remaining voters have had their say.
“There’s no sense in prejudging that,” Mr. Cardin said.
Superdelegates are party and elected officials who automatically attend the Democratic National Convention and can support whomever they choose. There will be nearly 800 of them at the convention in Denver. They have been a focus of the campaign because neither Mrs. Clinton nor Mr. Obama can clinch the nomination without them.
SUPER LIST
The following is a list of Maryland’s 27 Democratic superdelegates and two “add-on” delegates declared and undeclared.
Undeclared
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin
John Gage
Belkis “Bel” Leong-Hong
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer
Delegate Heather R. Mizeur
Gregory Pecoraro
Rep. John Sarbanes
John Sweeney
Susan Turnbull
Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Alvaro Cifuentes
Maria Cordone
State Treasurer Nancy S. Kopp
Richard Michalski
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski
Gov. Martin O’Malley
Carol Pensky
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
Michael Steed
Former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, add-on delegate
Supporting Sen. Barack Obama
Michael Cryor
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings
Former Gov. Parris Glendening, add-on delegate
Lauren Glover
Janice Griffin
Mary Jo Neville
Karren Pope-Onwukwe
Rep. Albert R. Wynn
Superdelegate not returning phone calls
Glenard S. Middleton
Source: Associated Press
Please read our comment policy before commenting.