Superdelegate switches; endorses Sen. Obama

WASHINGTON -- The head of the Democratic Party during part of Bill Clinton's administration switched allegiances Thursday and endorsed Barack Obama.

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Joe Andrew, an Indiana native who also was state party chairman there, announced his switch just a few days before the state's crucial Tuesday primary.

In an interview with The Indianapolis Star, Andrew — one of the crucial "superdelegates" both campaigns are courting — also said his wife Ann, who had been a full-time volunteer for Clinton, also is switching her support to Obama. The Star is owned by Gannett, parent company of USA TODAY.

Andrew said the primary fight between Clinton and Obama has become too divisive.

"It's bad and it's time to end it now," Andrew said. "End it in Indiana on Tuesday."

Andrew said his decision — which puts him at odds with Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who is a national co-chairman of Clinton's campaign — was a "long time coming." But he said the final thing that tipped him to backing Obama was the gasoline tax holiday that Clinton, as well as Sen. John McCain, have proposed. He called it "pandering" and said it represented the old-style politics that he said he'd been a practitioner of himself.

He said he had not called the Clintons to tell them of his decision, in part because it would have prompted that campaign to let out "their attack dogs" even sooner.

Andrew said that polls are showing that Democrats are becoming more divided, with supporters of each candidate saying they cannot support the other, and that Republican Sen. John McCain is benefiting as a result.

Asked for a response to Andrew's decision, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said, "We support that Democratic process and think that every American should be able to weigh in and support the candidate of his or her own choosing."

Andrew's decision puts Obama closer to closing Clinton's superdelegate lead, according to estimates by the Associated Press. Clinton had a big advantage among superdelegates, many of whom like Andrews have ties to the Clintons and backed her candidacy early on. But the AP estimates most of the superdelegates taking sides recently have gone for Obama, who has won more state contests.