Wisconsin's Super Delegates

Voters in Wisconsin's primary gave Barack Obama 42 delegates. Add the Wisconsin super delegates committed to Obama and he has a total of 47.

Hillary Clinton has 34 delegates from Wisconsin, including the 2 super delegates in her corner.

Nine of Wisconsin's 18 super delegates remain uncommitted or aren't talking. Two will be named at the convention.

These super delegates have a sweet deal.

Other Wisconsinites had to make a decision before the polls closed at 8:00 PM on February 19. Oh, to be super!

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- After his commanding win in Wisconsin's primary, Barack Obama won the support Wednesday of an additional state superdelegate to widen his lead over Hillary Rodham Clinton five to two.

The superdelegates can back whoever they want, regardless of the primary vote, and could determine the party's nominee at this summer's convention if neither candidate has enough delegates to lock it up before then.

Wisconsin has 18 superdelegates. Nine said Wednesday they were uncommitted or weren't saying who they back. Two superdelegates will be named at the party's convention.

Before Tuesday's primary, which Obama won 58 percent to 41 percent, only six of Wisconsin's superdelegates had committed. Four were for Obama and two were for Clinton. After the primary, Obama gained the backing of U.S. Rep. Ron Kind.

Kind threw his support behind Obama after the Illinois senator won the popular vote in his congressional district Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen also had said he would back the winner in his district. But he remained uncommitted Wednesday even after preliminary totals showed Obama won handily in his northeastern Wisconsin district.

What is Kagen's problem?

Does he enjoy being courted? Does he have his hand out? Is it tough for him to do what he said he would do? Is being an uncommitted super delegate so much fun that he doesn't want it to end?

Two of the undecided superdelegates - Marquette University student Jason Rae and state Sen. Lena Taylor - did not immediately return messages seeking comment Wednesday. Another, Democratic National Committee member Paula Zellner, said her mind is made up but she's not going to announce her decision until the convention.

Why would Zellner declare that she has decided but she's going to keep her decision a secret until the convention?

It sounds like she doesn't want to give up the perks and attention of being uncommitted.

The six other undecided superdelegates are U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, state party chairman Joe Wineke, U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, caseworker Melissa Schroeder, University of Wisconsin-Madison student Awais Khaleel and Kagen.

In an interview with WisPolitics, Feingold said that he would listen to Wisconsin's voters to help him decide.

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold said if Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton wins Wisconsin with a "significant victory," it would help him to decide which candidate to back for the party's nomination.

"The next important piece of information will be what happens in Wisconsin," Feingold told WisPolitics. "That will be of significance to me, in terms of where I'm leaning."

I think Feingold is going to keep leaning as long as he can.

The Obama backers are Gov. Jim Doyle, U.S. Reps. Obey and Gwen Moore, former state Rep. Stan Gruszynski, and Kind. Clinton supporters are U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Democratic National Committee member Tim Sullivan.

Super delegates lead a charmed life -- perks, attention, power.

I guess I can understand why they are slow to commit.