PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Rep. David Wu, one of Oregon's 12 Democratic superdelegates, announced Thursday that he'd back Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, citing Obama's stand against the Iraq war "from the very beginning."Wu joins Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer in backing Obama. Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley are supporting New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. The rest of Oregon's superdelegates have not yet announced their choice.
"We need new policies both at home and abroad," Wu said in a statement. "Like Americans, the international community wants to see real change in America and I believe that Senator Obama embodies that change."
The endorsement is an important win for Obama in one of the few states still to vote. Oregon's primary ballots are counted on May 20.
Polls suggest the state is tilting toward Obama, but political analysts have suggested that Clinton could be competitive, particularly if she can make inroads in the populous Portland suburbs.
But Wu represents much of that territory and is a popular incumbent there, and so could be a powerful force in the region for Obama.
The endorsement is Obama's third from a superdelegate since he lost the Pennsylvania primary to Clinton on Tuesday. Clinton picked up one superdelegate on Wednesday.
"This endorsement is a sign of the growing support for Senator Obama here in Oregon," said Nick Shapiro, the communications director for the Obama campaign in Oregon.
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