McAllen superdelegate throws support behind Clinton

McALLEN - A local Democratic Party superdelegate declared his support Friday for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

McAllen lawyer Jaime A. Gonzalez Jr. made the announcement four days before Democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, where the senator from New York is counting on a strong showing to persuade convention superdelegates like Gonzalez to help her overtake her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"I believe (Clinton) is better invested in South Texas," Gonzalez said. "Those ties are strong and they are good."

Gonzalez and some 800 other superdelegates will likely play an important role in selecting the Democratic nominee for president at August's Democratic National Convention in Denver. High-ranking party officials, members of Congress and state-appointed politicos comprise the superdelegates.

Gonzalez was selected for the post in 2006 when he ran against other candidates at the Texas State Democratic Convention. Superdelegates are free to choose among candidates, while regular delegates are pledged to one candidate.

Other South Texas superdelegates, U.S. Reps Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, have already announced their support for Clinton.

The national press and local politicos have been clamoring for Gonzalez to announce his support. The New York Times, CNN and other national media outlets have repeatedly called Gonzalez since it became clear superdelegates might decide the race.

Clinton leads in the superdelegate count 270-251, but Obama leads in the overall delegate count, 1,739 to 1,606, according to the latest count from The Associated Press.

Although the former first lady picked up Gonzalez last week, Clinton also was jolted by Thursday's defection of superdelegate Joe Andrew, a former Democratic National Committee chairman appointed to that post in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Andrew, who was previously the state party chairman in Indiana, is now urging fellow Democrats in that state to unite behind Obama.

Clinton would have to garner 80 percent of the remaining pledged delegates to win the nomination for president, unless she gets strong superdelegate support, according to an AP news analysis. The nominee is widely expected to be decided by superdelegates at the convention.

Gonzalez indicated strong South Texas support for Clinton in the Texas primary on March 4 influenced his decision to support her. With the election season nearing its end, the time was right to make his announcement, he said.

"It became abundantly clear by the election results that Sen. Clinton had commanded the trust of (Hispanics)," Gonzalez said. "Her vast experience played a role as well."