Donna Brazile, a top manager of Al Gore's 2000 campaign, drew loud responses from partisans in the audience when she said the Clinton campaign's efforts to squeeze a maximum number of delegates from the deliberations were an attempt to change the rules at the end of the game.
"That is referred to as cheating," she said.
Clinton, who began her campaign as a heavy favorite to become the first female nominee of a major party, trails Obama by 175 delegates, according to the latest Associated Press tally.
She is expected to win today in Puerto Rico, with 55 delegates at stake, while Obama is favored to prevail in Tuesday's closing primaries in South Dakota and Montana, which will award a total of 31 delegates.
Since neither candidate will gain a nominating majority in the primaries and caucuses, some 800 superdelegates - elected and party officials who will cast about one-fifth of the overall convention votes - will decide the winner.
Nearly 200 superdelegates have yet to commit publicly. Nine are from Maryland, including Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin and Reps. John Sarbanes, Steny H. Hoyer and Chris Van Hollen.
Democratic strategists expect a significant number of undeclared superdelegates to endorse Obama as the primary season concludes.
"There will probably be a little race to get ahead," said Democratic consultant Bill Carrick, a veteran of past presidential campaigns. "People want to be the first ones out of the box."
Attention on McCain
In the past few weeks, with his nomination all but assured, Obama has increasingly turned his attention to McCain. Clinton has continued to press her candidacy, though without the sharp attacks on Obama that characterized her efforts during much of the winter and spring.
Recently, McCain and Obama sparred over the conflict in Iraq, with McCain demanding that his Democratic rival visit the war zone for a firsthand look. Obama, who made his early opposition to the war a cornerstone of his candidacy, is considering an overseas trip in the next few weeks, aides said.
The contours of the general election debate have also come more sharply into view. McCain's attacks on Obama focus largely on the freshman senator's lack of experience at the national level and, especially, in military and defense matters.
Obama's side has pressed the argument that electing McCain would be like giving President Bush a third term.
With an eye toward the fall campaign, Obama has also shifted his campaign schedule. He has combined visits to primary states with appearances in swing states that could decide the presidential election, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.
paul.west@baltsun.com
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Church
Obama announces he is leaving Chicago church. PG 3A
