Pro-Clinton lawmakers switch to Obama

MILWAUKEE — Rep. John Lewis, an elder statesman from the civil-rights era and one of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's most prominent black supporters, said Thursday night he planned to cast his vote as a superdelegate for Sen. Barack Obama in hopes of preventing a Democratic convention fight.

"In recent days, there is a sense of movement and a sense of spirit," said Lewis, a Georgia Democrat who endorsed Clinton last fall and who carries great influence among other members of Congress. "Something is happening in America, and people are prepared and ready to make that great leap."

His comments came as fresh signs emerged that Clinton's support was beginning to erode from other African-American lawmakers who also serve as superdelegates. Georgia Rep. David Scott said earlier Thursday that he would not go against the will of voters in his district, who overwhelmingly supported Obama last week.

Lewis said he and other prominent African-American party leaders had been moved by Obama's recent victories and his ability to transcend racial and geographic lines.

"If I can be used as a mediator, a negotiator or a peacemaker, I'd be happy to step in," Lewis said, adding that he intends to speak to both candidates in hopes of ending the race amicably in the next month. "I don't want to see Mrs. Clinton damaged or Mr. Obama damaged."

Obama has won 1,112 pledged delegates in primaries and caucuses, and Clinton has won 979. Including superdelegates, Obama has 1,277 delegates to Clinton's 1,219, according to The Associated Press. It takes 2,025 to clinch the nomination.

The totals reflect Clinton's win in New Mexico's Democratic caucuses Feb. 5, results that were announced Thursday, nine days after voting ended.

Huckabee to speak in Cayman Islands

PEWAUKEE, Wis. — Mike Huckabee will leave the country for a day this weekend to deliver a speech in the Cayman Islands.

Huckabee aides did not say how much their boss will be paid to appear at the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards on Saturday. They rejected the notion that the event was a sign of Huckabee's ramping down his presidential campaign, saying he will bracket the trip with plenty of Wisconsin events ahead of Tuesday's primary.

"I'm not independently wealthy. I wish I was. I have to make a living," Huckabee said. "I do that through my writing and speaking."

Huckabee complained that he was effectively "subsidizing" his opponents, because the four other remaining candidates, three senators and a congressman, are all on the federal payroll.

Clinton won't shun debate on MSNBC

WASHINGTON — After threatening for days to back out of a scheduled MSNBC debate Feb. 26, Hillary Rodham Clinton will show up for the Cleveland faceoff against Barack Obama, her campaign says.

The Clinton camp had said it might pull the plug after MSNBC correspondent David Shuster said Chelsea Clinton, 27, was being "pimped out" for the campaign.

As recently as Monday, after Shuster was suspended and he and network executives apologized repeatedly, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said he couldn't imagine his candidate participating in a debate on that cable network.

But Wolfson said Wednesday that the debate is back on.

Food-workers union endorses Obama

MILWAUKEE — Barack Obama has won the backing of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), a politically active union with significant membership in upcoming Democratic battlegrounds.

Obama also picked up an endorsement Thursday from former Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. And the 1.8 million-member Service Employees International Union is expected to endorse Obama today, union officials said.

The 1.3 million member UFCW gives Obama an organizational boost in upcoming contests, with 69,000 members in Ohio and 26,000 in Texas. The two states have contests March 4. The union also has 19,000 members in Wisconsin, which has a primary Tuesday.

Seattle Times news services