As Gov. Bill Ritter joined more than 50 other superdelegates who helped put Barack Obama over the top Tuesday night, an undecided trio of Colorado politicians remained largely silent.
Ritter made his announcement after polls closed in Montana and South Dakota.
Although he’d quietly pledged his support in the past few weeks, Ritter said he remained publicly tight-lipped so he could continue promoting and raising funds for August’s Democratic National Convention in Denver.
In his statement of support, Ritter said both he and the country have been energized by the Illinois senator.
“He captures the battle between hope and cynicism,” Ritter said. “He has excited people across all lines . . . and I absolutely think he can win Colorado.”
Ritter was among the superdelegates who endorsed Obama on Tuesday, pushing him past the 2,118 delegates needed to secure the nomination.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ken Salazar and Reps. John Salazar of Manassa and Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs have yet to announce their endorsements. Udall’s office said he would do so today.
By holding their endorsements, the uncommitted Colorado superdelegates avoided alienating colleagues and voters, several analysts said.
That was particularly important for Udall, who is running for Senate.
“Why take the chance?” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “Colorado’s closely divided between the (Republican and Democratic) parties.” Endorsing Obama could have meant angering Clinton supporters, he said.
“You don’t want to lose any Democrats in November,” Sabato said. “You need them all.”
Ken Salazar needed to not offend either Clinton or Obama, because at least one will be returning to the Senate, said Norman Ornstein, a political analyst with American Enterprise Institute.
Salazar also beefed up his influence by holding out his vote, then joining Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa on Monday in trying to unite superdelegates to decide quickly, Ornstein said.
“It became very clear at that point, there was a message for Sen. Clinton that resistance would be futile,” Ornstein said.
Colorado superdelegates who support Obama include Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Golden; former Gov. Roy Romer; state Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Waak; and Democratic National Committee members Dan Slater, Debbie Marquez and J.W. Postal.
Clinton’s Colorado superdelegates are: Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver and DNC members Maria Handley, Ramona Martinez and Mannie Rodriguez.
