Before the Pennsylvania primary finished I wrote a piece stating that Democratic superdelegates would be unmoved by the Pennsylvania primary results.  According to Elizabeth Drew of Politico, that is indeed the case.

“I don’t think anyone’s shaken,” a leading House Democrat told me. The critical mass of Democratic congressmen that has been prepared to endorse Obama when the timing seemed right remains prepared to do so. Their reasons, ones they have held for months, have not changed – and by their very nature are unlikely to.

She lays out 3 big reasons why these publicly uncommitted superdelegates are simply waiting for the right time to endorse Obama.

1. Hillary Clinton is a polarizing enough figure that she will motivate the Republican base.
2. Abandoning Obama, the putative winner of the delegate race, would “deeply alienate” the African-American vote, which could impact the Democratic party for generations.
3. African-American turnout is pivotal to many House races, and these elected officials are not going to risk those seats by alienating those voters.

According to Drew, there are enough of these superdelegates already privately lined up behind Obama that the race is essentially over at this point.

At first, a large number of superdelegates planned to announce their support for Obama following Super Tuesday, but he didn’t do well enough to warrant that; then it was to be after Ohio and Texas; then after Pennsylvania; and some Democrats suggest that if Obama wins both Indiana and North Carolina a number of superdelegates will announce for him then. But the prevailing thinking is to allow the race to play out, avoiding a confrontation with Clinton and her backers, but also letting the pressure grow on her to justify continuing to fight a bloody but lost cause. This is, the thinking goes, the best and perhaps only way to get the thing wrapped up, as they so desperately want to do.

Senator Barack Obama’s “Road to Change” bus tour of Pennsylvania continues Monday March 31st and Tuesday April 1st with stops in Lancaster, Allentown, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.

Monday

Lancaster Town Hall Meeting

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
John Barley Multi-Purpose Activity Center
750 East King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Doors Open: 8:00 AM
Program Begins: 10:00 AM

Allentown Rally

Muhlenberg College
Memorial Hall in the Life Sport Building
Liberty Street at 24th Street
Allentown, PA
Doors open to public: 3:50 PM
Program: 5:50 PM

Tuesday

Wilkes-Barre Town Hall Meeting

Arnaud C. Marts Center
Wilkes University
274 S. Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Public Doors Open: 9:45 AM
Program: 11:45 AM

Scranton Town Hall Meeting

Dunmore Community Center Gymnasium
1414 Monroe
Scranton, PA 18509
Doors Open: 1:30PM

Obama began his bus tour on Friday with stops at Soldier’s and Sailor’s Hall in Pittsburgh and the Hempfield Area High School gymnasium in Hempfield Township.

I attended both events as a member of the press.

Both events were packed to the gills, and the free tickets were given out soon after they became available.

Attendees were extremely enthusiastic, and security was everywhere to be seen.

In addition to the Secret Service, there was Obama security, local police, and state police.  TSA checked us all in at both events.

Senator Bob Casey endorsed and introduced Obama at both events.

There were men and women in about equal numbers and from a wide range of ages at both events.

Obama seemed genuinely to enjoy himself at these events and seemed at ease with audience back and forth.

I don’t yet know whether there’s been an actual endorsement of Obama by Rep. Jason Altmire who represents Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs and is a superdelegate, but he’s clearly supporting Obama. He was introduced by Obama to cheers, and stood several times to cheer for Obama’s applause lines. I mentioned before that his wife and staff wore Obama buttons during Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. That’s Altmire in the center below. He’s the only one not blurred out — neat trick, eh?

Friday morning at the first stop on Obama’s bus tour of Pennsylvania, Senator Bob Casey endorsed and introduced Barack Obama.

At Pittsburgh’s Soldier’s and Sailor’s Museum Hall in Oakland, Casey introduced Obama to thunderous applause.

Casey himself, like his father the former Governor Casey, is beloved by Pennsylvania’s culturally conservative union voters.

His endorsement matters in Pennsylvania for Obama.

He may not have a political machine like Rendell, but his endorsement will give Obama some credibility with these voters.

His wife and staff wore Obama buttons during Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and he sat in the front row and was introduced during Obama’s Pittsburgh leg of his Pennsylvania bus tour.  At Soldier’s and Sailor’s Hall in Pittsburgh this morning, Rep. Jason Altmire stood up and waved after Obama introduced him.

Senator Bob Casey strongly endorsed Obama this morning in Pittsburgh during Obama’s Pennsylvania bus tour.  It seemed to be based, at least according to his introduction speech, on his daughters’ enthusiasm for Obama.  Casey is a big get in a state that loves his family for their cultural conservatism, especially on the abortion issue.  He’s going to go along with Obama on his PA bus tour this week.

Casey is also, of course, another superdelegate endorsement for Obama.

The former VP of the United Steel Workers of America had this to say about it:

I have been active in the Democratic party since 1980 and this year there are two extraordinary candidates running for the Democratic nomination. But I am endorsing Barack Obama because he is the only candidate I have encountered who truly has the capability to activate, motivate, and lead the American people in a new direction.

Former Philadelphia city councilwoman Carol Ann Campbell decided to back Obama after a 90 minute phone call from the candidate’s wife Michelle on Saturday, Time magazine reports today.

Campbell is the third super delegate to endorse Obama from Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania DNC member and superdelegate Leon Lynch endorsed Obama today.
His statement courtesy of Time:

I have been active in the Democratic party since 1980 and this year there are two extraordinary candidates running for the Democratic nomination. But I am endorsing Barack Obama because he is the only candidate I have encountered who truly has the capability to activate, motivate, and lead the American people in a new direction.

The rest after the jump.