Cryor says the Democratic race is over

In the aftermath of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) convincing victory over Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the North Carolina primary and narrow defeat in Indiana, Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor told PolitickerMD.com that the Democratic contest is "for all intensive purposes, over."

"It makes it a lot easier for the American people to appreciate the inevitability of where this contest is headed," Cryor, an Obama superdelegate, said of the results.

With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Obama secured 56.2 percent of the vote in North Carolina, compared to 41.5 for Clinton. He won 890,723 popular votes; Clinton garnered 657,997.

In Indiana, as the evening progressed into the early morning hours, Clinton's margin of victory dwindled to under two points; 50.7 percent to 49.3, with 99 percent reporting. Clinton won the Hoosier State by just over 18,000 popular votes.

Obama leads Clinton 1588-1422 among pledged delegates and 1844-1695 when committed superdelegates are factored into the equation, according to an NBC News count. A total of 2,025 delegates are needed to win the nomination.

Cryor said he would not ask Clinton to leave the race.

"I think Sen. Clinton is an extraordinary statesperson," Cryor said. "She deserves the right to make that decision."

Asked if Clinton's continued presence in the contest through the end of the June 3 primaries would hurt the Democratic Party, Cryor said, "It would depend on the circumstances of how she would continue the campaign."

The chairman said Clinton's presence would be "harmful" if she attacks Obama and runs a negative campaign, but said she could "reinforce" a positive message that strikes to the core of Democratic Party's values, which could help the eventual nominee in November.

Furthermore, Cryor said he expected additional superdelegates would start to "move" towards Obama; clinching the nomination.

There are still ten uncommitted superdelegates in Maryland; Cryor said he has "not been in conversation" with any of those ten.

The next primary will take place Tuesday in West Virginia.