2:45 PM: Feingold, Kohl remain uncommitted
Barack Obama's victory Tuesday over Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin's Democratic presidential primary hasn't generated an endorsement from fellow Democratic U.S. Sens. Russ Feingold of Middleton and Herb Kohl of Milwaukee.
Obama expanded his lead in delegates with Tuesday's win in the Badger State, and is now more firmly viewed as the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic White House nomination than ever before. But perhaps concerned that Clinton might ultimately pull it out, Feingold and Kohl are remaining mum on their preference.
If neither Obama or Clinton manage to win enough Democratic delegates to secure the nomination after all states and U.S. territories have voted, the "super delegate" votes exercised by Feingold, Kohl and others could prove pivotal to deciding who takes on the Republican presidential nominee in November. Most Democrats elected to state and federal office are "super delegates," as are a number of Democratic Party activists. They are free to pledge their delegate to whichever Democratic presidential candidate they choose.
Feingold’' campaign office confirmed Wednesday that the Middleton Democrat has yet to endorse. Kohl's office referred WisPolitics.com to what the Senator said last week in regard to whom he would support for the nomination.
"I want to cast a responsible [super delegate] vote," Kohl said. "It behooves me to see how the process plays itself out yet for a while, so the vote takes into consideration what my state does, it takes into consideration what the rest of the country is doing, it takes into consideration my sizing up of the candidates as the race unfolds. And who might be the best candidate in the fall and who might be the best president."
-- By David M. Drucker
Labels: 2008 spring primary