As Obama Closes In, Will Clinton Concede?
According to an Associated Press (AP) tally, Barack Obama entered today's Montana and South Dakota primaries with 2,076 total delegates, 42 short of the number needed to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton has 1,917 delegates, the AP reported. The Montana and South Dakota contests mark the end of the primary season.
The two candidates are battling for a total of 31 pledged delegates in Montana and South Dakota. That means Obama will need the endorsement of additional superdelegates to put him over the "magic number" of 2,118 committed delegates needed to clinch the nomination.
American Research Group polls gave Obama a projected four-point edge in Montana, and Clinton a 16-point advantage in South Dakota.
The Washington Post noted that roughly 180 superdelegates have not yet endorsed either Obama or Clinton."[M]any were reportedly waiting for the end of the primaries today to announce which candidate they will support at the Democratic convention in Denver in late August," the Post stated.
An AP report published earlier today said Clinton would concede to Obama tonight during a speech in New York. Shortly thereafter, the Clinton campaign issued a denial, stating that the AP story was incorrect. "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination this evening," the prepared statement declared.
In ADVANCE's most recent online Opinion Poll, 63 percent of respondents said Clinton should concede the nomination and pledge her support to Obama.