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Posted: 6:28 PM- WASHINGTON - Barack Obama picked up two more superdelegates from Utah today.
State party chairman Wayne Holland endorsed the Illinois senator and promised that Utah's yet-unnamed superdelegate will also be an Obama backer. Holland will pick that person at the state convention in May.
Superdelegates are normally Democratic leaders who can exercise their own judgment in the tight race for the nomination, regardless of the results of primaries or caucuses.
Utah Democrats gave Obama 57 percent of the vote on Feb. 5. He received 14 of Utah's 23 pledged delegates for his win. Sen. Hillary Clinton received 9 delegates.
Holland pointed to that victory in explaining his endorsement and said he believes the excitement from an Obama candidacy could help Democratic candidates prevail in local contests.
"No doubt that the Obama factor will assist us in Utah if he is the nominee," Holland said.
Before announcing his endorsement, Holland canvassed the 158 people running as Democrats in Utah for everything from governor to county commission and nearly 80 percent of them supported Obama.
"That matched what my conscience told me to do," he said.
Utah will send 29 people to the national convention in Denver this August, including six superdelegates.
Bill Orton, a former congressman, also backs Obama.
Former state Sen. Karen Hale and Democratic committeewoman Helen Langan have endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton, but have recently said they are considering switching their support to Obama.
Rep. Jim Matheson remains undecided.
"I'm willing to see how this plays out," he said.
The next primary is April 22 in Pennsylvania, where the latest polls show Obama gaining ground on Clinton.
Overall, Obama holds a delegate lead of more than 120, but Clinton continues to have an advantage with superdelegates. A recent Associated Press survey found that Clinton had the support of 250 Democratic leaders to Obama's 221.
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