New Batch of Superdelegates to Choose a Candidate

May 3, 2008 -- Laurie Weahkee of Albuquerque, N.M., never expected she'd be a Democratic power broker.

But a week ago today, this modest American Indian voter outreach worker became New Mexico's one and only "add-on superdelegate" — making her voice one of those that count most in the razor-tight race between Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"I had not anticipated this opportunity at all," said Weahkee, who is from the Zuni Pueblo and an organizer for the Native American Voters Alliance. "I had not grown up thinking that I would be a superdelegate in the 2008 presidential campaign."

In this race for the Democratic nomination, though, every single delegate counts.

Based on the ABC News Delegate Estimate, it now seems like the Democratic nomination rests in the hands of 218 uncommitted superdelegates.

Obama trails Clinton by only 14 votes, and if the whole thing weren't complicated enough, there's a new wrinkle. So-called "add-on superdelegates" are now thrown into the mix. Weakhee is one of the 76 people chosen as the new superdelegates.

"We came up with this idea late, literally in the middle of the night," Democratic strategist Tad Devine said. "This might satisfy both sides."

The idea was to give each state a few extra superdelegates, late in the game, who would be chosen by local officials to better reflect the results of a long nomination fight.

In Illinois, it's no surprise that all three add-ons — including Chicago Mayor Richard Daley — favor Obama, the favorite son.

Likewise, in New York, all four add-ons — including state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo — are for Clinton.

But in Massachusetts, the governor and senators leaned one way, and the voters disagreed.

ABC News' Karen Travers has a complicated spreadsheet she updates daily, to keep track of the Democratic delegate count. She said it was a lot to keep track of, especially with the media hype.

"Right now, we are at that point that when the candidates get a superdelegate endorsement, it's a press release," she said.

Travers talked with Weahkee five times, but Weahkee is so new to the game, she has stayed under the campaigns' radar. No one from either camp has contacted her. Even New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who has endorsed Obama, has not called Weahkee.

"I figure they don't have my phone number or something," she said. "I'm not sure exactly what is going on."

Weahkee told ABC News she is completely uncommitted and will likely decide who to support based on how the candidates stack up on American Indian issues.

Despite fears from Democratic leaders that the prolonged primary battle is tearing the party apart, neither candidate is ready to throw in the towel.

The campaigns are looking ahead to the Indiana and North Carolina primaries on Tuesday, with what could be yet another make-or-break moment for the candidates.

A victory in Indiana coupled with a close race in North Carolina would bolster Clinton's argument that she is the candidate to take on Republican Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the general election.

Clinton is not expected to win North Carolina, but a Clinton defeat in Indiana would put new pressure on her to bow out of the race.

Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said it's premature to count Clinton out.

"We have millions of voters yet to go to the polls in the nine upcoming contests, literally millions of voters," McAuliffe said on "Good Morning America."

Joe Andrew, a superdelegate and former Democratic National Committee chairman, who backs Obama, said neither candidate can win the nomination through primary votes now, and it will come down to the party's so-called superdelegates.

"Millions of people are inspired by Barack Obama, just like millions of people were inspired by Bill Clinton back in 1992, when he was a candidate of hope, not fear," Andrew said today on "GMA."

"Look, Barack Obama is the Bill Clinton of 2008, and I think that people are going to continue to surround him. And I think the superdelegates ... are going to make their decision known," he said.

Along with the 75 other new superdelegates, Weahkee will make her decision known — when she makes one.

Until then, she is waiting to hear from the candidates.