An elite group of Democratic party delegates has yet to be moved by the wave of support that swept through party caucuses 2-to-1 in favor of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Washington has 17 superdelegates, who can back any candidate and change their mind at any time up until delegates vote in the Democratic national convention later this summer.

The list includes the state’s top congressional and political leaders.

Several have announced their preferences and said they are sticking with their previous picks.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., holds the superdelegate lead in Washington, 6-3. She has the support of six superdelegates, while another three are firmly behind Obama. Eight remain uncommitted.

Clinton’s lead in Washington closely reflects the results of a survey by the Associated Press. The survey showed of the 796 lawmakers, governors and party officials who are Democratic superdelegates, Clinton had 243 and Obama had 156.

Most of Washington’s uncommitted, or “unpledged,” superdelegates say they are waiting it out.

Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen is a reluctant superdelegate and is in no hurry to choose sides in the battle for the party’s presidential nomination.

He’d just as soon not have to decide between Clinton and Obama.

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

In the political mathematics of the presidential race, superdelegates are gaining greater attention for their potential to determine if Clinton or Obama becomes the nominee in the tight race.

Larsen said he’ll weigh the results of Saturday’s caucuses in Washington when, and if, he decides to issue an endorsement.

Superdelegates were created because the party elites didn’t trust the rank-and-file Democrats, he said. “I trust the grass roots. If they don’t sort it out, so be it.”

There’s a lot of sorting out left to be done. Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia will cast ballots today. Ohio and Texas follow in early March and delegate-rich Pennsylvania doesn’t vote until April.

“A lot can change,” Larsen said. “There should be no push for uncommitted superdelegates to decide because the grass-roots delegates still have a lot of talking to do. I want to let them have their impact.”

Eileen Macoll of Pullman, state party vice chairwoman and a superdelegate, has met with Obama and Clinton.

“They have so much to offer,” Macoll said. “It’s an amazing experience to be a superdelegate and in this position. I truly am undecided.”

She might throw her support to one of the two candidates in coming months.

“I’m going to watch the traffic and watch the flow and see which way it’s going,” she said. “I’ll especially be watching how the vote goes in the large states that remain, like Pennsylvania, Texas and Ohio. That will perhaps lead me to a decision.”

David McDonald, attorney for the Democratic party and a superdelegate, is waiting to name his choice.

“The overriding responsibility for superdelegates in this particular year is helping get this process to a safe landing without some type of crash,” McDonald said. “Delegate-by-delegate fights are very emotionally intense. There is a great risk to all of us that the support base of the two candidates will not be able to work for the other. The single best way for a Republican to win is for us to have a fight that gets out of hand. Whoever we support, the overriding concern is to not have a Republican in the White House next year.”

Saturday’s caucus victory for Obama in Washington shows his skill at running a campaign that attracts broadly based support, McDonald said, but that might not translate into votes in an election. Alternately, Clinton didn’t campaign here and yet had supporters defending her in caucus debates.

“She’s focused on solidifying her base and support in the states necessary to win a presidential election,” McDonald said. “I’m not sure these days we fit into that category.”

Ed Cote of Vancouver, Wash., also is an unpledged superdelegate. “I am still firmly uncommitted and I am going to stay uncommitted,” he said. “I do not have to vote until the week of Aug. 25. This is only Feb. 11.”

Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.

What’s a superdelegate?

Superdelegates can vote for whomever they choose, and they are not required to vote for the candidate they endorse, unlike pledged delegates secured through a primary or a caucus.

The Democratic Party inserted superdelegates into the nominating process in the 1980s to give a say to elected officials and party leaders.

Democratic superdelegates, which number 796 this year, make up about 19 percent of the overall delegates.

Since 1984, when Walter Mondale relied on superdelegates to distance himself from rival Gary Hart and secure the Democratic nomination, primaries and caucuses have determined the party’s nominee without superdelegates making a difference.

Source: The Associated Press

Democratic superdelegates

The Democratic party will choose 80 delegates based on Saturday’s results. The 17 superdelegates bring the party’s total to 97 for Washington.

Supporting U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton: Six — Sen. Patty Murray; Sen. Maria Cantwell; Rep. Norm Dicks; Rep. Jay Inslee; former Speaker Tom Foley; King County Executive Ron Sims.

Supporting U.S. Sen. Barack Obama: Three — Gov. Chris Gregoire; Rep. Adam Smith; Democratic National Committeewoman Pat Notter.

Uncommitted: Eight — State party chairman Dwight Pelz; State party vice chairwoman Eileen Macoll; Rep. Rick Larsen; Rep. Brian Baird; Rep. Jim McDermott; Democratic National Committee members David McDonald, Ed Cote and Sharon Mast.

Republican delegates

The state GOP will send 40 delegates to the nation convention, 18 of which will be determined by Saturday’s caucus results and 19 from the results of the Feb. 19 primary election. Three superdelegates, state GOP party chairman Luke Esser, GOP national committeeman Jeff Kent of Whatcom County and committeewoman Fredi Simpson of Chelan County, are uncommitted.