Obama pulls even in California

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LOS ANGELES — The Democratic race is in a dead heat in California, the most important and competitive contest on Super Tuesday, an indication the nomination battle will stretch far beyond tomorrow.

Sen. Barack Obama got a surprise boost yesterday when Maria Shriver, married to Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said she was supporting the senator from Illinois.

An already excited crowd of Obama supporters here at UCLA for an event with Oprah Winfrey exploded into ear-splitting cheers when Michelle Obama announced that her husband was getting the endorsement from California's first lady.

"If Barack Obama was a state, he'd be California," Mrs. Shriver said, ticking off the reasons: "Diverse," "open," "smart," "independent," "bucks tradition," "innovative," "inspiring," "dreamer," "leader."

She stressed the endorsement wasn't because she is friends with Miss Winfrey and related to the Kennedy family members who also backed Mr. Obama. She said she'd just made up her mind and rushed to the event in such a hurry, she didn't bother to brush her hair.

"California has a moment. ...We can lead this country," she said. "Remember that so goes California, so goes the nation."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who still leads the polls nationally and in many of the 22 states that vote tomorrow, was aiming to nab the endorsement of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Former President Bill Clinton watched last night's Super Bowl with Mr. Richardson in hopes of winning him over.

The backing of Mr. Richardson, who ended his bid to be the first Hispanic president last month, would help Mrs. Clinton shore up her already strong showing among Hispanic voters in key Super Tuesday states.

Mrs. Clinton of New York prepared to reach millions of people at once with a nationally televised town hall while Mr. Obamaspent big bucks with a Super Bowl ad aimed at young voters in states that vote tomorrow and in later contests.

While both candidates attracted record crowds all over the country, Mrs. Clinton, campaigning in Missouri and Minneapolis yesterday, said she is more "tested" than Mr. Obama. She said she has withstood Republican attacks for years while Mr. Obama, serving his first term in the Senate, is still an unknown quantity.