Sarbanes could make superdelegate decision by Wednesday

ANNAPOLIS-- Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Towson) told PolitickerMD.com today that "it's possible" he could endorse a presidential candidate by Wednesday, one-day after the final nominating contests in South Dakota and Montana.

Appearing at the District 30 Democratic Club Cookout and Fundraiser in Annapolis, Sarbanes would not say which candidate he would endorse. The representative from Maryland's 3rd Congressional District has long pledged to remain uncommitted until the process is finalized on Tuesday.

"I'm certainly not going to make a decision before Tuesday," Sarbanes said. "We're coming to the end of the process and I'll think you'll see a fair amount of closure taking hold."

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) leads Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) 1727-1622 among pledged delegates and 2,072-1,915 when committed superdelegates and former Sen. John Edwards' delegates are factored into the equation, according to the latest NBC News count.

Obama needs 2,118 delegates to secure the nomination. After Tuesday, he will only need a small portion of uncommitted superdelegates to cross that threshold.

Asked if he thought the length of the race would hurt or help the Democrats' chances in November, Sarbanes said, "It still depends on how this process finishes up."

"So far-I think it has been positive," Sarbanes added, referring to "unprecedented Democratic turnout" that will "bode well for the party in November."

Despite that immense Democratic turnout, polling data collected in the last several primary states indicates that a large portion of Clinton's supporters will not vote for Obama in the general election; at least that's what they say now.

"I bring a lot of weariness to some of these polls," Sarbanes said. "People say things in the heat of the moment. The candidates are still fighting the battle."

Clinton has said she will work her "heart out" for Obama if he is the nominee, and has encouraged her supporters to do the same.

Like Obama, Sarbanes said a "great majority of Democrats" will be united behind the nominee in the general election.

"We're going to win on the issues," Sarbanes said of the presidential contest, specifically referring to the economy and the war in Iraq.

"We want to focus on the issues," he added.

As for his view on the role of a superdelegate, Sarbanes said, "Superdelegates were created to exercise some measure of independence, but they take their cue from various surrounding factions."