Short diary...Updated 9am
On Vermont Public Radio this morning, Senator Leahy called for Senator Clinton to withdraw from the Presidential race.
Senator Leahy, who endorsed Obama in January, said "There is no way that Senator Clinton is going to win enough delegates to get the nomination. She ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama".
He also pointed out that "John McCain, who has been making one gaffe after another, is getting a free ride on it because Senator Obama and Senator Clinton have to fight with each other. I think that her criticism is hurting him more than anything John McCain has said. I think that's unfortunate."
Obama has picked up three superdelgates since Wednesday. I suspect that we will see a lot more activity today between this call for Clinton's withdrawal and Senator Casey's endorsement of Obama later this morning.
UPDATE 1: The VPR server appears to be swamped so here's another link from ABC.
UPDATE 2: In a statement this afternoon, Senator Leahy softened his tone but reiterated:
"Senator Clinton has every right, but not a very good reason, to remain a candidate for as long as she wants to,"
He added:
"As far as the delegate count and the interests of a Democratic victory in November go, there is not a very good reason for drawing this out."
UPDATE 3:Senator Dodd made a similar statement to the National Journal on Thursday.
"I mean, if a person wants to stay in the race, stay in the race... But if you have enough people rallying behind what appears to be the likely choice, and I believe the choice is Barack Obama ... then I think you have to step up to the plate and say, 'Enough is enough.' We want this to be over with."
Senator Clinton did not address Leahy's comments directly, but indicated at a rally in Indiana today that she was not going to shut down her campaign.