Abortion-rights group's nod to Obama stirs flap

The decision by a major abortion-rights group to endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has created an uproar among some affiliates and other abortion-rights advocates.

Many said that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., had as good a record on reproductive rights as Obama and that there was no need to take sides in the Democratic primary.

The endorsement by the group, NARAL Pro-Choice America, announced Wednesday, came as a blow to the Clinton campaign. Clinton, who had the support of the group throughout her political career, told NBC News on Wednesday that not getting the NARAL nod was a disappointment.

Clinton supporters in the blogosphere said they perceived it as a badly timed slap at Clinton as she deals with the likely end of her quest for the presidency. It came the same day Obama received the support of former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, and his backers hailed it as further evidence that the nomination fight was drawing to a close.

In making the NARAL announcement, Nancy Keenan, the group's president, said Obama was the more viable candidate.

The affiliates protesting the decision included those in New York, Clinton's home state, and Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Oregon, which holds its primary next week. Some said they saw no need to turn their backs on Clinton now.

Obama picks up 11 more delegates

WASHINGTON — Sen. Barack Obama collected the support of seven of John Edwards' 19 Democratic National Convention delegates Thursday and gained the backing of four superdelegates, including one from Washington, and a large labor union as he marched toward the presidential nomination.

The fresh support brought Obama's overall delegate total to 1,898, compared with 1,718 for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. It takes 2,026 to clinch the nomination at the party convention in Denver this summer.

The United Steelworkers union also endorsed Obama for president. Superdelegate Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America union, also endorsed Obama.

In addition, three superdelegates in the House — Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, and Henry Waxman and Howard Berman of California — endorsed Obama.

McDermott joined Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire and Reps. Adam Smith, Brian Baird and Rick Larsen in endorsing Obama. Smith is Obama's state chairman.

Pat Notter, a Washington state superdelegate and member of the Democratic National Committee, also backs Obama.

Clinton has support from five Washington superdelegates: Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Reps. Norm Dicks and Jay Inslee, and King County Executive Ron Sims.

Also

Sen. Barack Obama plans to return to Oregon this weekend, with at least one stop in Eastern Oregon. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton also will be in Oregon for a televised town-hall meeting with undecided voters in Portland tonight. Other appearances were expected to be announced later.

Seattle Times news services