U.S. Democratic leaders push for end of nomination race

Source: Xinhua | 05-31-2008 13:09

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic leaders were pushing for the end of the party's presidential nomination race by urging uncommitted superdelegates to make their endorsement, said a TV report on Friday.

Citing a senior Democratic aide, the CNN reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat, was already calling uncommitted superdelegates, asking them to publicly express their support between now and next week to Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the presidential nominee.

She was also working with Harry Reid, Senate Majority (Democrat)leader in pressing the superdelegates, who are taken by the party's elected officials and senior members.

A source from the Democratic National Committee also confirmed with CNN that the Committee Chairman Howard Dean had talked to Reid on this topic.

"They've both discussed in the past that the superdelegates should make their intentions known before July 1," the source said, adding it is still unclear whether the two Democratic leaders reached any agreement on deadline for uncommitted superdelegates.

In an interview with the California-based San Francisco Chronicle earlier this week, Pelosi, who has not yet shown support to any candidate, said she would "step in" if the long-lasting tied race between Clinton and Obama would continue to the national convention in Denver, Colorado, in late August.

"We can not take this fight to the convention," she said. "I believe it will be over in two weeks."

For almost five months following the presidential nomination race began, Hillary and Obama have been caught in a neck-and-neck game with the latter having an indecisive advantage.

With only three primaries left for Democrats before the primary season ends in early June, Obama has only 45 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to secure his nomination, while Clinton is lagged behind with 1,782 delegates.

Editor:Xiong Qu