Maine superdelegate sides with Obama

AUGUSTA – One of Maine’s three undeclared “superdelegates” said Tuesday she’s endorsing Barack Obama for president.

Jennifer DeChant, Democratic National Committeewoman for Maine, said it became clear after the party’s state convention last weekend that the Illinois senator is the choice of a majority of the state’s delegates.

“It’s the end of the primary season,” DeChant said. “Now it’s important to unite behind one candidate.”

With DeChant in the Obama column, Maine’s national delegate total is 20 for Obama and 10 for Hillary Rodham Clinton with two other superdelegates not yet committed.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, a former John Edwards supporter, was not expected to announce a new endorsement until the final primaries in South Dakota and Montana were over, said spokesman Ed Gilman. National Committeeman Sam Spencer said he would release a statement after those two primaries.

On Sunday, state convention delegates ratified the party chairman’s nomination of Gwethalyn Phillips of Bangor, a former state party official, as an “unpledged add-on” delegate as specified in party rules. Phillips is an active Obama supporter.