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Barack Obama wins Rick Larsen's backing

Illinois senator has 5 of state's superdelegates; Clinton has 6

By Jerry Cornfield
Herald Writer

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen moved out of the column of uncommitted Democratic superdelegates Thursday and into the growing line of supporters of Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Larsen ended weeks of neutrality, saying Tuesday's primaries made "very clear" that the Illinois senator has the skill and resolve to win his fierce battle with Sen. Hillary Clinton for the party's nomination.

"This week, Sen. Obama has proven that he is tough and resilient," Larsen said. "He has shown that he can take a pounding, come back and continue to communicate with the public to deliver his message of hope and change."

Obama now enjoys backing from five of the state's 17 superdelegates, one less than Clinton. Six remained uncommitted Thursday, including Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle.

Each pick up is pivotal. Though Obama leads in the total delegate count, it is unlikely he can gain enough in the last portion of the grueling campaign to win. That means unless Clinton withdraws, the party's 795 superdelegates -- of which one-third are uncommitted -- will determine the nominee.

Larsen of Lake Stevens repeatedly said he would wait until the season of caucuses and primaries ends in early June before deciding.

"If I need to exercise my vote as a superdelegate in order to have a nominee this fall, then I will," he said in February. "I believe the grass roots of the party should select the candidate. The grass-roots process is not done. We should let it finish."

He remained steadfast even after Obama demonstrated his strength in Washington by winning the Democratic caucuses and capturing the popular vote in the presidential primary.

His mind changed Tuesday when Obama beat Clinton handily in North Carolina and nearly came from behind to win in Indiana.

The performance "put a lot of uncommitted superdelegates in a head scratching mode" that maybe it was time to act, he said.

Once Larsen added in the excitement stirred by Obama in the 2nd Congressional District he represents it became easy. His district encompasses part of Snohomish County and all of Island, Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan counties.

"Frankly, people want to be part of what he is about," Larsen said. "He has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate."

Larsen said he had leaned toward Clinton early in the campaign. He found her recent call for a gas tax holiday a little too politically opportunistic.

"It really looked like someone trying to create votes where votes didn't exist," he said. "At least Sen. Obama had the fortitude to come out and call this gas tax holiday what it is, a gimmick."

Larsen and Obama spoke Thursday before the congressman announced his decision.

Larsen said they talked about critical elections in the state this fall, the issuing of the air tanker contract to Airbus rather than Boeing and even a little basketball.

Larsen joins fellow representatives Adam Smith and Brian Baird, Gov. Chris Gregoire and party official Pat Notter in backing Obama.

Those supporting Clinton are U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell; U.S. Reps. Norm Dicks and Jay Inslee; King County Executive Ron Sims; and former U.S. Rep. Thomas Foley.

The undecideds are McDermott, state party chairman Dwight Pelz, state party vice chairwoman Eileen Macoll and Democratic National Committee members David McDonald, Ed Cote and Sharon Mast.