Klobuchar stays neutral in Senate race

The U.S. senator became the ninth of the state's 14 superdelegates to back Obama, but she's mum on the DFL's U.S. Senate contest.

By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune

Last update: March 31, 2008 - 10:45 PM

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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the newest Democratic superdelegate to back the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, nonetheless doesn't think Hillary Rodham Clinton should drop out of the race.

"I believe Senator Clinton has every right to continue her campaign," Klobuchar said Monday during a conference call with reporters. "She should continue."

But Klobuchar remained mum Monday on an endorsement in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, where DFL front-runner Al Franken continues to face a vigorous challenge from Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a University of St. Thomas professor and former congressional candidate.

While acknowledging that the time had come to make a pick in the fiercely contested presidential race, Klobuchar said she would not endorse in the Senate race until after the party's June endorsing convention.

"It's a different thing," she said Monday. "I always said I would [endorse] in the summer."

As the Democrats' presidential campaign remains frozen in a delegate stalemate, the party's superdelegates have begun migrating to the Illinois senator.

Klobuchar became the ninth of Minnesota's 14 superdelegates to back Obama's bid.

In doing so, the freshman Democrat rethought her original plan to remain neutral in the race.

Caucuses, energy cited

Citing Obama's sweeping victory at Minnesota's precinct caucuses on Feb. 5, Klobuchar said her neutrality had placed her "between Barack and a hard place -- and I chose Barack."

His Minnesota victory, however, was not the only factor. Even more compelling, Klobuchar said, is that "he has unleashed an energy in this country that is impossible to contain."

Despite growing fears within the party that the presidential campaign could become increasingly toxic, possibly ending in a bloody fight on the floor of the national convention in Denver, Klobuchar said she remains optimistic it will be resolved peacefully long before then.

"I have faith that our candidates will work this out and resolve it by early summer," she said.

And unlike some Democrats, who have said the Clinton-Obama standoff has hurt the party's prospects in November, Klobuchar said that "this spirited contest has been good for the party."

In speaking with reporters about Obama, Klobuchar cited work she has done with him on issues such as ethics reform and toy safety.

In a statement Sunday night, Obama expressed his gratitude for Klobuchar's support. According to the Obama campaign, Klobuchar is the 64th superdelegate to endorse him since the Feb. 5th Super Tuesday contests.

Staff writer Patricia Lopez contributed to this report. Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184

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