R. Keith Roark still isn't picking sides, but an overwhelming win by Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday night in the North Carolina Democratic primary and a closer-than-expected showing in Indiana erased some doubts for Idaho's one uncommitted Democratic superdelegate.
"I was impressed," said Roark, the chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party.
With Obama's lightning rod former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, re-emerging shortly before the votes, Roark said Obama's strong performance shows his ability to get past the controversy.
Obama won North Carolina by double digits. Sen. Hillary Clinton won by just two points in Indiana, a state she hoped to win handily.
"It says to me that he's learned how to take a punch and he now has a maturity in his campaign approach that one has to be impressed with," said Roark, one of four Idaho superdelegates.
Obama has a strong delegate lead over Clinton, but likely can't get the delegates necessary to clinch before the Democratic National Convention.
The fight for the nation's approximately 270 uncommitted superdelegates shifted into a higher gear Wednesday, but few party insiders were ready to pledge their allegiance to either candidate.
Still, the pressure was on for the party leaders, activists and lawmakers who could decide the Democratic nomination to make up their minds. Party leaders talked throughout the day to unpledged members of Congress, urging them to announce decisions before the final primaries on June 3.
"If this goes beyond that," said Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., a party vice chairman, "it could lead to the perception that the superdelegates are wagging this dog" and make voters in Democratic primaries and caucuses less important.
Obama now has 1,840.5 convention delegates to Clinton's 1,688, with 2,025 needed to nominate. Those totals include superdelegates: Clinton claims 271 delegates and Obama 256.
In Idaho, Roark is one of four current Idaho superdelegates that will help pick the Democratic nominee.
The other three have endorsed Obama, who overwhelmingly won the February Idaho Democratic Caucus.
Party members will pick a fifth superdelegate at the Democratic convention in June in Boise. Superdelegates are not bound by their states' vote. Idaho's other superdelegates and their positions with the state Democratic party are:
Jeanne Buell, Boise, state chairwoman.
Grant Burgoyne, Boise, national committeeman.
Gail Bray, Boise, national committeewoman.
The Obama supporters agreed Tuesday was an important night for their candidate.
Burgoyne stopped short of saying Clinton should drop out of the race, but said he wouldn't be surprised if she did soon.
"I think the math is becoming very compelling," he said.
Bray said Obama's increasing ability to appeal to white voters helps erase doubts about his ability to mount a national campaign.
"His appeal goes across all lines, be they party lines, or gender, or racial or socio-economic, she said.
Democrats have six more primaries, beginning with West Virginia on May 13, with a total of 217 delegates at stake.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., cited his state's May 20 primary as a reason to remain uncommitted.
"We haven't had a relevant primary since 1984, and I want to see a big turnout," he said.
McClatchy News Service contributed to this story.
Heath Druzin: 373-6617
