From the The Jersey Journal Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign. Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter. "After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," Payne, whose district includes parts of Hudson County, said Thursday. Obama picked up the backing of eight more superdelegates yesterday, as well as the support of the American Federation of Government Employees. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments. As Obama secured one victory after another, "I did certainly have a great deal of pride in the fact that an African-American would do so well," said Payne.
Charles Rangel Tripping says Hillary says Dumb things but can Still Win
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), among Hillary Rodham Clinton's top African-American supporters, was none too pleased with Clinton's comments this week to USA Today that she has broader appeal with white voters. The statement was "the dumbest thing she could have said," Rangel told reporters before a Clinton fundraiser in a midtown hotel ballroom Saturday. He called her statement "very poorly worded" but acknowledged there may be some truth to it. Rangel said Clinton should leave it to others to make the case that she has more appeal to white voters. "That is rough campaign talk. That is not presidential talk. You leave that stuff to the boys in the backroom," said Rangel, the dean of New York's congressional delegation. He insisted that Clinton can still defeat Obama for the Democratic nomination. "Why the hell would I be here at a Clinton rally if I didn't think she could win?" he asked reporters. [MORE]