Florida superdel to endorse... someone

by Tamara Lytle

Tallahassee Democratic activist Jon Ausman - the man at the center of the fight to reinstate Florida's presidential nominating convention delegates - will endorse a candidate at 2:30 this afternoon.

Ausman, a state employee, said he still hasn't decided whether it will be Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton. He's holding a news conference outside his office in Tallhassee because he set himself a 3 p.m. decision to make a choice.

Ausman is a member of the Democratic National Committee, which makes him a superdelegate. He won his case Saturday to have Florida's delegation reinstated by the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee.

Ausman and the other 210 Florida delegates will get only a half vote each in a compromise that punishes Florida for holding its Jan. 29 primary too early.

Still, both sides are looking for every delegate - or half delegate - they can find as Obama closes in on the number needed to clinch the nomination.

Ausman said he hasn't notified either campaign - though Clinton called him this morning - because he truly hasn't decided. "I have a heart and a brain," he said. "I could go either way."

Clinton and the Obama aren't the only ones lobbying him - "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of Democrats have emailed or sent hand-written letters pleading for him to endorse their candidate, he said. "It's been a confetti parade of letters and emails."

Of Florida's 26 unpledged delegates, eight have endorsed Clinton, six Obama and 12, including Ausman, are yet uncommitted. But not for long.