Obama Camp Urges Superdelegates: "Bring This to a Close"

(CBS)

CHICAGO -- After winning the North Carolina primary and losing Indiana by two points, the Obama campaign is feeling confident. Campaign manager David Plouffe declared that they can see the finish line and are now looking for superdelegates to wrap up the nomination. "We have been making great progress in the superdelegate world over the past couple of weeks," he said. "I mentioned post Pennsylvania, where Senator Clinton had a nine point win, during the Rev. Wright episode during last week, we still led Senator Clinton in superdelegate endorsements during that period two to one."

Obama supporters Sen.John Kerry, D-Mass., and Gov. Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz., argue that the superdelegates now have a responsibility to move the nominating process forward. "Obama has shown he can win across the board and now its time for superdelegates to bring this to a close," Napolitano said. Obama is expected to meet with undecided superdelegates tomorrow in Washington.

Kerry said that it is the responsibility of the superdelegates to ensure that the Democratic Party will be unified at the convention in August, and suggested that Obama could have won the Indiana primary last night if it was not for the Republicans. "I think if it hadn't been for Republicans taking Democratic ballots he likely would have won in Indiana too," Kerry said. "Rush Limbaugh was tampering with the primary and the GOP has clearly declared that they want Hillary Clinton as a candidate."

On Monday, Limbaugh launched what he called "Operation Chaos," where he urged Indiana Republicans to vote for Hillary Clinton. Plouffe agreed that Limbaugh did have an effect on the outcome of the Indiana primary.