Virginia Clinton backer turns to Obama

By TYLER WHITLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
"The math" prompted Jennifer L. McClellan to switch her allegiance.

Democratic superdelegate Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond announced yesterday she is switching her support from Hillary Rodham Clinton to Barack Obama.

McClellan, who represents Richmond in the House of Delegates, is one of 16 Virginia superdelegates. Her switch leaves Obama and Clinton with five each; six are undecided.

A day after Obama's big victory in North Carolina and Clinton's narrow win in Indiana, McClellan said she is switching because of "the math."

Clinton would have to win 70 percent of the remaining primary delegates and 70 percent of the remaining superdelegates to win the nomination and "I don't see that happening," McClellan said.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a national co-chairman of Obama's campaign, joined McClellan on a conference call hosted by the "Obama for America" campaign. Kaine said it is time to end the nominating contest so Obama can begin running a general election campaign against Sen. John McCain, the putative Republican presidential nominee.

"It was a tough call for Jenn to make, but it was the right call all of us should be making for our party," said Kaine, who predicted that more Virginia superdelegates would follow.

But three uncommitted superdelegates from Virginia -- the state Democratic Party chairman, C. Richard Cranwell, Sen. Jim Webb and Jim Leaman, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO -- said yesterday they would remain neutral for the time being.

McClellan, a superdelegate in her capacity as vice chair for organization of the state Democratic Party, introduced Clinton at the state Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner in February.

McClellan endorsed Clinton in December because she thought the New York senator would have the best chance of winning the presidency.

Kaine and McClellan said they thought either Democrat could beat McCain in November. Cranwell said he thinks the long nomination process has helped the Democratic candidates and there is no need to make a decision now.

Leaman said "a lot of us don't want to jump the gun," but, referring to the end of the primary calendar, added: "It's going to be hard after June 3 to come up with a good excuse not to make a decision."

Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. of Chesapeake said he is sticking with Clinton, but noted the pressure on superdelegates, saying: "Everybody and their momma's calling."

In Fairfax, undeclared superdelegate Jerome Wiley Segovia said he is getting calls and e-mails seeking his support. "A few braver souls than myself will probably endorse Obama," he said. "Endorsements will trickle in and the future will be more clear."

With Hispanics strongly favoring Clinton nationwide, Segovia said he is struggling with whether he wants "to endorse a candidate with weaker ties to our community."

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.

Neil H. Simon of Media General News Service contributed to this report.