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Four prominent Democratic leaders have released a statement urging the remaining undeclared superdelegates to back a presidential candidate by the end of the week.

“We have come to the end of an exciting primary and caucus process – the voters have spoken," write Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Governors Association Chairman Joe Manchin and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.

“Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election," they continue. "To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted super delegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country."

After last night, Barack Obama has the delegates he needs to claim the mantle of presumptive nominee. The statement released this morning appears to be an attempt to leave the superdelegate saga behind and help create a unified front for the battle with John McCain.

“We once again congratulate all of the candidates for their leadership and dedication to providing this country with a New Direction," the party leaders conclude. "We look forward to working with them and with all Democrats to win the White House, congressional seats and state capitals so we can deliver the change the American people deserve and demand.”

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has endorsed Barack Obama, CBS News confirms. Clyburn is the highest ranking African-American member of Congress.

Clyburn told the Associated Press that he was calling on South Carolina superdelegates to back Obama, who is now just 44 delegates shy of clinching the Democratic nomination, according to the latest CBS News count.

Hillary Clinton suggested today that the Democratic race will come to an end soon after the final Democratic primaries on June 3rd.

"I think that after the final primaries, people are going to start making up their minds," Clinton told Montana reporters, according to the Associated Press. "I think that is the natural progression that one would expect."

Added Clinton, in reference to the superdelegates who could, were they to break to her in large numbers, help her win the Democratic nomination: "I think that people will have to ask themselves...who would be the best president in terms of preparation and readiness and effectiveness, and who would be the stronger candidate."

If you're a superdelegate, check your mailbox: You'll soon have a personalized letter from Hillary Clinton. In it, Clinton argues her case for "why I believe I am the stronger candidate against Senator McCain and would be the best President and Commander in Chief."

"Dear ___________," the letter (in its generic form) opens. A few paragraphs in, Clinton makes indirect reference to her rival Barack Obama's lack of success in attracting working class voters.

Americans "want a President who shares their core beliefs about our country and its future and 'gets' what they go through every day to care for their families, pay the bills and try to put something away for the future," Clinton writes.

Later, she makes an argument based on polls and election results.

"I am ahead in states that have been critical to victory in the past two elections," Clinton writes. "From Ohio, to Pennsylvania, to West Virginia and beyond, the results of recent primaries in battleground states show that I have strong support from the regions and demographics Democrats need to take back the White House. I am also currently ahead of Senator McCain in Gallup national tracking polls, while Senator Obama is behind him. And nearly all independent analyses show that I am in a stronger position to win the Electoral College, primarily because I lead Senator McCain in Florida and Ohio."

"In addition, when the primaries are finished, I expect to lead in the popular vote and in delegates earned through primaries," she writes. "Ultimately, the point of our primary process is to pick our strongest nominee – the one who would be the best President and Commander in Chief, who has the greatest support from members of our party, and who is most likely to win in November. So I hope you will consider not just the strength of the coalition backing me, but also that more people will have cast their votes for me."

The letter comes with "a detailed analysis of recent electoral and polling information" to back Clinton's case. Though the New York senator now has little chance of securing the Democratic presidential nomination, she could conceivably overcome Obama's delegate lead if she convinces a significant majority of superdelegates to back her.

Full letter below.

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Barack Obama's campaign has been trying hard to limit the damage from the Democratic frontrunner's big loss in West Virginia, conceding the race in advance and suggesting it should be considered a good showing if Obama secured just 20 percent or more of the vote in the state. (He did – but still lost by 41 percentage points.)

Now comes the day after strategy: The campaign is offering up evidence that no matter what happened on Tuesday, the superdelegates and endorsements are still flowing Obama's way.

The morning the campaign announced the two most recent superdelegates to commit to Obama: Rep. Peter Visclosky of Indiana and Democrats Abroad chair Christine Schon Marques, who counts as half a superdelegate.

The Wall Street Journal also notes that Obama has secured the endorsements of three former chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission, one of whom served under President Bush. They join Fed Chairman Paul Volcker, who endorsed Obama earlier this year.

Barack Obama may end up losing some of his delegate margin in West Virginia when the results come in tonight but his campaign continues to roll out the superdelegate endorsements today. Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin endorsed Obama this morning and the campaign held a conference call with former DNC Chair/Colorado Gov. Roy Romer to discuss his decision to back Obama.

“A lot of people in the party are ready to close down the primary and get on with the general election,” Romer told reporters. “This has been a very vigorous primary and Senator Clinton has been a very strong and formidable candidate, and she’s a strong friend … but the math is controlling. This race I believe is over, Senator Obama has accumulated a lead in delegates chosen by primaries, caucuses and superdelegates that cannot be overcome.”

Romer was quick to point out that he was not trying to add any pressure on Clinton to drop out of the race, saying that clearing up the picture of where superdelegates line up serves only to provide her with more information on which to base decisions. “The more clarity we can give, those of who are superdelegates, the sooner we can make it clear, I think it will help her in whatever decision that she will make. But that is a decision she has to make,” Romer said.

Romer’s support is important beyond the superdelegate count because Colorado is potentially a key battleground and Obama won the caucuses there with 62 percent on Super Tuesday. Campaign manager David Plouffe stressed the competitive nature of Western states and said Colorado is a state Obama can win in November.

Hillary Clinton's superdelegate lead over Barack Obama has narrowed to just five in the latest CBS News delegate count.

His latest pickups? American Federation of Government Employees President John Gage, whose 600,000 member union officially endorsed Obama as well; New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne, who had previously supported Clinton; and Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio.

"I believe he represents our best hope of winning in November, and puts the needs and priorities of hard working Americans ahead of the powerful special interests that have been extraordinarily favored by the Bush-Cheney administration," DeFazio said in a statement. The congressman will campaign with Obama in Oregon, which is holding a May 20th primary.

Gage, meanwhile, suggested that Obama would be stronger than Clinton in "bringing along some of the downticket races."

The news wasn't all good for the Democratic frontrunner: Superdelegate Chris Carney, a representative from a conservative Pennsylvania district that broke for Clinton in the state's primary last month, has endorsed the New York senator. Carney told the Associated Press he made the choice in an effort to "respect" the will of those in his district.

The support of Sacramento, California superdelegate Steven Ybarra, meanwhile, remains up for grabs – though he's willing to sell it to the highest bidder. The cost? A cool $20 million.

CBS 13 reports that "Ybarra wants every cent of the $20 million to go towards registering and educating eligible Mexican-American voters, who he calls the key to the White House."

Asked if he would accept $5 million instead, Ybarra responded: "No, $5 million is nothing."

UPDATE: And another super goes to Obama: California DNC Member Ed Espinoza. The gap between Obama and Clinton now sits at 4 superdelegates.

"[Obama] has shown he has the character to lead our great nation, from his choice to spend his career serving people in the poorest communities in Chicago to his commitment to speaking truth to the American people, even when it isn’t politically convenient to do so," Espinoza said in a release put out by the Obama campaign.

Barack Obama's effort to woo superdelegates with a trip to the House of Representatives this morning appears to have already paid off.

Previously undeclared superdelegate Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., said that he would cast his vote at the Democratic convention for the Illinois senator.

Miller made his decision after meeting with Obama in Washington today.

"Senator Obama understands that he has the chance not just to win the election this year, but to be a great president," Miller wrote in his announcement.

Read Miller's full statement below:

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One of the big questions following yesterday's split decision in the Democratic battle was what impact the results would have on uncommitted superdelegates.

The answers are starting to trickle in. And the early word seems to be: Let's not do anything rash.

Democratic superdelegate Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island told the Associated Press that he was going to wait to decide who to back based on "who's got that momentum heading into the general election and that's unresolved based on yesterday." And Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney, another super, said he'd decide whom to back after the final primary June 3rd.

Not everyone is biding their time: Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina is backing Clinton, though, as promised, he's simply following the will of the Democratic voters in his district.

UPDATE: Four previously uncommitted superdelegates swung their support to Obama Wednesday afternoon, the AP reports. They include Virginia's Jennifer McClellan – who used to support Clinton – North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek, North Carolina Democratic National Committee member Jeanette Council, and California DNC member Inola Henry. None of the five remaining undecided superdelegates from Wisconsin, meanwhile, has yet decided to back either candidate.

ANOTHER UPDATE: The Hill reports that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has been one of Clinton's biggest backers in the Senate, said that she wants the New York senator to lay out a detailed plan for how she plans to go forward after Tuesday's results.

“I, as you know, have great fondness and great respect for Sen. Clinton and I’m very loyal to her,” Feinstein told The Hill. “Having said that, I’d like to talk with her and [get] her view on the rest of the race and what the strategy is.”

Feinstein said that Clinton has thus far not responded to her request.

Rep. Heath Shuler, a Democratic superdelegate, said last night that he will endorse whichever Democratic candidate wins the most votes in his western North Carolina district today.

The Associated Press reported the news, noting that Shuler's rural, conservative district "is comprised primarily of white, working-class voters -- a demographic that has long favored Hillary Rodham Clinton."

More than 488,000 votes have been cast already in North Carolina, where polls close at 7:30 tonight. As we noted in Starting Gate, North Carolinians John and Elizabeth Edwards have declined to endorse a candidate. North Carolina's governor, Mike Easley, is one of the two superdelegates backing Clinton, while six of the state's superdelegates have pledged support to Barack Obama.