Jason Altmire, a freshman House member from Pennsylvania and undeclared superdelegate, gives some insightinto what's going on behind the scenes right now in the Obama camp.
For those of us waiting for the super avalanche today, it looks like it may instead happen tomorrow while Montana and South Dakato go to the polls.
Looking to bring finality to the Democratic presidential campaign, Barack Obama worked furiously Monday to win over enough superdelegates to clinch the nomination with the final primaries Tuesday.
Obama wants to formally kick off his general election campaign against Republican John McCain in a victory speech Tuesday night as the final primary campaign polls close in South Dakota and Montana.
"Senator Obama is trying to line up people that are going to come out for him tomorrow during the day so that he'll have enough that puts him over the top that he can declare victory tomorrow," said Pennsylvania Rep. Jason Altmire, one of about 200 superdelegates under pressure to take a side in the contest.
"He apparently is telling people that he has the numbers, and that's what's going to happen, at which point it would become moot what the rest of us do," said Altmire, who added that he will wait until after the final votes and make a decision by week's end.
Rep. Altmire, by the way, has long been suspected to be an Obama supporter. He has popped up at Obama rallies and his wife, kids and own campaign staff have been seen wearing Obama buttons.
Meanwhile, the same article suggests that Hillary thinks she may have a shot at winning South Dakota:
Clinton campaigned in South Dakota, telling the patrons at Tally's Restaurant in Rapid City: "I'm just very grateful we kept this campaign going until South Dakota would have the last word. What South Dakota decides tomorrow will have a big influence in what people think going forward."
The Page also reports that Hillary thinks the SD race will be closer than expected. One wonders if a win there might give her reason to continue, even when the signs point to a exit soon.
UPDATE: Altmire told The Patriot-News over the weekend that unless Obama locks up the nomination Tuesday night with pledged delegates earned from SD and Montana, he will endorse Hillary.
Altmire, a freshman congressman, said he has told Clinton and Obama that he is holding off to see what next week's election results bring, easing the pressure for a few more days. But he remains hopeful that superdelegates will not be the determining factor for the party's nominee, he said.
If they are, he said he is going with Clinton, because she won 65 percent of the vote in his district.