Top Wisc. Dem Endorses Obama Before Texas, Ohio Primaries

This story was written by Britney Tripp, The Daily Cardinal

Wineke said in a statement he gave his endorsement because Obama won the majority of counties in the state primary.

"I believe that Senator Obama's convincing win in the Badger state should be rewarded. Therefore, I pledge my support for his campaign," Wineke said.

Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont have primaries Tuesday.

State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, is also a superdelegate and currently has not endorsed a candidate. Taylor said she has been busy running for Milwaukee County Executive, which has kept her from beoming involved in the primary process.

Taylor said superdelegates would not ultimately decide the Democratic nominee unless the number of superdelegates supporting each candidate is very close.

Taylor said after Tuesday's primaries it will become clearer whether the superdelegates will have an effect on the election. However, she said it is important to respect how the public votes in the process.

"Doing what the people want is an important component of what I do as a super delegate," Taylor said.

DPW Communications Director Rachel Strauch-Nelson said it is too early to say if superdelegates will play a large role in nominating the Democratic candidate as many states are still undecided.

Many superdelegates in the state have already endorsed Obama or U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. Gov. Jim Doyle, along with U.S. Reps. Dave Obey, D-Wis., and Steve Kagen, D-Wis., have all endorsed Obama.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and state Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, have endorsed Clinton.

Obama and Clinton are close in numbers of pledged delegates, though news agencies disagree on the exact total each candidate has. The two are within 100 delegates of one another.
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