By JOHN MILBURN (Published May 19, 2008) Fort Mill Times TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates on Monday endorsed Barack Obama's bid for the party's presidential nomination.
Gates, one of Kansas' superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, said he was backing Obama for his ability to win in Republican-dominated states and "his positive campaign." Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in February's Kansas caucuses.
"Senator Obama inspired record numbers of voters to turn out to the Kansas caucuses, which not only strengthens our party, but also the whole political process," Gates said in a statement. "He is the best candidate for Democrats to stand behind as we work to take on John McCain."
Obama is actively courting support from superdelegates across the country as he closes in on the Democratic nomination. Obama also on Monday picked up the backing of West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a day before Democrats in Kentucky and Oregon go to the polls.
Obama holds a lead over Clinton that makes it mathematically unlikely that she can overtake him in the remaining primaries, putting the outcome of the nomination in the hands of superdelegates such as Gates.
Gates joins Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, who have endorsed Obama's campaign over Clinton. All three are among the state's delegates to the national convention this summer in Denver.
Gates compared Obama's appeal with that of Sebelius, a popular governor who wooed Republicans and independents to win two terms.
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