Hawaii Superdelegate, Akaka Announce Support For Obama

HONOLULU -- Hawaii U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka and Hawaii's Democratic National Party chairwoman announced on Monday their support for Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Obama endorsed Akaka in the recent election against Ed Case. Obama also appeared in a TV ad for Akaka.

Both Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton raised money for Akaka's campaign.

Last week, Akaka said both candidates were friends and he was having a difficult time deciding whom to endorse.

The Democratic National Party chairwoman for Hawaii, Dolly Strazar, said it was time for the party to unify. She joined Akaka in pledging their superdelegate votes to Obama.

Hawaii has nine super delegates. They include Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Rep. Mazie Hirono, Akaka, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Democratic Committee Man Richard Port, and Strazar.

Inouye and Port support Clinton. Abercrombie supported Obama from the beginning. Hirono announced her decision to back Obama Friday.

The other three Hawaii superdelegates will be elected later this month at Democratic State Convention.

Obama now leads in the race for superdelegates, 277 to Clinton's 273, according to CNN's latest count.

Obama currently has 1,869.5 votes compared to Clinton's 1,697.

Clinton's campaign has not indicated when or if the senator will end her run for the White House.

Over the weekend, "The New York Times" reported Obama might make a campaign stop in Hawaii this summer. It could include a speech at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. That is where Obama's grandfather, who fought in World War II, is buried.