Four more WA superdelegates go for Obama

With the Democratic race for president decided, four more Washington state superdelegates are lining up behind presumptive nominee Barack Obama.

Former House Speaker Tom Foley, Reps. Jay Inslee and Norm Dicks, and state party Vice Chairwoman Eileen Macoll say they will support the Illinois senator. Foley had been the last undecided superdelegate in Washington state, while Inslee, Dicks and Macoll had previously endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dicks said he spoke to Clinton Wednesday night and encouraged her to unify the party by publicly backing Obama. Clinton told supporters in an e-mail Thursday that she will speak on Saturday about how to rally the party behind Obama.

"I see no reason not to join in that effort and express my support for Obama," Dicks said in an interview. "I want to unify the party and that's what Sen. Clinton wants as well."

While he initially backed Clinton as the more experienced candidate, "the differences between Obama and Clinton are so minuscule compared to (Arizona Sen. John) McCain and the Republicans," Dicks said, referring to the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

On issues from the environment to the economy to the need to end the war in Iraq, Clinton and Obama agree more than they disagree, Dicks said.

"We don't need four more years of a third term" for President Bush, Dicks said.

Foley's wife, Heather, said the former speaker spoke to Clinton's representatives Wednesday night to inform them of his decision. Spokeswoman Christine Hanson Clapp says Inslee also spoke to Clinton and told her he will formally endorse Obama on Saturday, just after she ends her candidacy. Macoll said she will officially endorse Obama on Saturday as well, out of respect to Clinton.

"This was an emotional thing in terms of gender politics," Macoll said. "This is part of our political evolution and it deserves due pause and reflection."

The announcements by Foley, Dicks, Inslee and Macoll bring the total count of superdelegates in Washington state to 15 for Obama and two for Clinton.

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Associated Press Writer Rachel La Corte contributed to this report from Olympia, Wash.