Obama Adds Three More Superdelegates

The movement of Democratic superdelegates to presidential hopeful Barack Obama gained steam Friday with endorsements from a union president and two congressmen, including one who switched his backing from rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama has now climbed within a handful of superdelegates of catching Clinton in endorsements from the party and elected officials who will ultimately decide the nomination.

With the three new superdelegate endorsements, the superdelegate count is Clinton, 271.5 and Obama, 266.

Obama also picked up the endorsement of the influential American Federation of Government Employees union on Friday.

“Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama’s campaign,” AFGE President John Gage said.

Gage, a previously uncommitted superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, said he is also personally endorsing Obama.

In New Jersey, Donald Payne — a black congressman who had been backing Clinton for the nomination — is switching his support to Obama, Dan Pfeiffer, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, confirmed.

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon also plans to formally endorse Obama and campaign with him at events Friday in Eugene and Albany, Ore.

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