Today on the presidential campaign trail

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - IN THE HEADLINES

Obama wins endorsements from 3 superdelegates and government employees union ... Even when it's just for fun, Obama parries media and plays to win ... Clinton vows to keep running, calls on Obama to debate her again

___

Obama picks ups 3 superdelegates, union endorsement

WASHINGTON (AP) — The movement of Democratic superdelegates to presidential hopeful Barack Obama gained steam Friday with endorsements from a union president and two congressmen, including one who switched his backing from rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama has now climbed within 10 superdelegates of catching Clinton in endorsements from the party and elected officials who will ultimately decide the nomination. With the three new superdelegate endorsements, the superdelegate count is Clinton, 271.5 and Obama, 266

Obama also picked up the endorsement of the influential American Federation of Government Employees union on Friday.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," AFGE President John Gage said.

Gage, a previously uncommitted superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, said he is also personally endorsing Obama.

In New Jersey, Donald Payne — a black congressman who had been backing Clinton for the nomination — is switching his support to Obama, Dan Pfeiffer, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, confirmed.

Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon also plans to formally endorse Obama and campaign with him at events Friday in Eugene and Albany, Ore.

"Senator Obama has proven he is able to energize young Americans, independents, and even moderate Republicans to support his candidacy," DeFazio said in a statement released by his office. "I believe he represents our best hope of winning in November, and puts the needs and priorities of hard working Americans ahead of the powerful special interests that have been extraordinarily favored by the Bush-Cheney administration."

___

Beat the Press: High-flying Obama plays to win

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Perhaps Barack Obama's competitive juices need new outlets now that he has expanded his lead over Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

On a five-hour flight from Washington to Oregon late Thursday, the Illinois senator came to the back of his charter plane for a spirited word game against reporters, and it was clear he did not intend to lose.

In "Taboo," a player under time constraints must prompt teammates to guess words or names without using obvious hints. For instance, in giving clues for "equator," the player is penalized if he says "Earth," "center" or "line."

Obama and a half-dozen aides took on a team of journalists, mostly young TV network reporters who have traveled with him for months. The senator jumped in eagerly and often.

When his communications director Robert Gibbs gave the clue, "I've got a good," Obama called out, "vibration!"

"Shorter than that," Gibbs said.

"Vibe," Obama guessed correctly.

Many clues touched on politics. Campaign aide Jen Psaki asked about something President Bush said on an aircraft carrier, and Obama quickly answered "mission accomplished." Close, but another aide and teammate, Reggie Love, later got the right answer: "mission control."

When Obama was giving clues, he ventured: "Thomas Jefferson called for it once in a while." Seeing the blank looks, he admitted, "that's too obscure." He then tried, "the Beatles did a song about it," and a teammate correctly answered, "Revolution."

___

Clinton renews call for debate with Obama in Oregon primary

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. (AP) — Hoarse from a cross-country campaign trip through three states, Sen. Hillary Clinton told die-hard supporters in southern Oregon she would keep running for president, and pressed her opponent to debate her again.

Sen. Barack Obama was to campaign through Oregon on Friday and Saturday, and Clinton said it would be a great time to debate while Oregonians consider how to cast mail ballots that are already hanging on refrigerators in households across the state. The ballots will be counted May 20.

Clinton was slated to speak Friday about health care at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

"Those of you who have already made up your mind to support me, send it in," Clinton told a cheering crowd of about 1,200, in a pavilion of the Jackson County fairgrounds on Thursday night. "If you think you've made up your mind to support my opponent, wait awhile. Keep thinking. Keep waiting for that debate."

Clinton repeated portions of her Oregon Compact, saying she favored restoring federal payments to timber-dependent counties, and criticized Obama for voting for an energy bill that took away states' authority over siting liquefied natural gas terminals. She also called for thinning forests to provide jobs and reduce the danger of wildfire.

Obama has not risen to the debate bait, saying they have had ample opportunity to discuss issues in repeated televised confrontations.

After a narrow Clinton win in Indiana and a strong Obama win in North Carolina, Clinton's chances of winning enough delegates to claim the nomination were dwindling, putting newfound importance on the 52 pledged delegates to be apportioned by Oregon voters.

___

THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with voters in Oregon before a Democratic dinner in Kentucky. Barack Obama holds three events in Oregon.

___

THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain tours a science center in New Jersey.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I voted and I'm going to keep that between me and the polling booth right now." — Former Sen. John Edwards, who was asked on NBC's "Today" Friday whether he voted for .

___

STAT OF THE DAY:

West Virginia's median age of 40.7 is four years older than the national median, more than nine in 10 residents are white and the median family income is roughly $12,500 below the national median of about $58,500.

___

Compiled by Joan Lowy

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080509/ap_on_el_pr/2008_race_rundown [link]