All eyes on the Democrats' superdelegates

Linda Chavez-Thompson knows she holds the most valuable political currency seen in recent years: a superdelegate vote.

But after Tuesday night's primaries in North Carolina and Indiana -- in which Barack Obama handily took one victory and Hillary Clinton narrowly took the other -- Chavez-Thompson still isn't ready to cash it in.

An officer for the Democratic National Committee, she is among hundreds of undeclared delegates in one of the most epic, long-standing battles for the presidential nomination.

"The primary is ... getting crazier by the day," said Chavez-Thompson, of San Antonio. "I don't think we're any closer to getting it sealed unless the superdelegates weigh in."

Superdelegates have been a focus since it became clear that Obama and Clinton are so close in the delegate count that superdelegates may decide the race. A Star-Telegram survey of Texas superdelegates shows that 13 support Clinton, 12 support Obama and seven are uncommitted.

Chavez-Thompson said she likely won't say who she supports until the convention because she is an officer on the DNC and because she represents the AFL-CIO.

But she hopes the nomination will soon be settled.

"Please, let's get it over with. Let's get on with it," she said. "The thing that troubles me is that ... a lot of people are not paying attention to the other nominee, John McCain."

Unwavering support

John Patrick of Friendswood decided just last week to support Obama and he believes that this week's primaries reaffirmed his choice.

"It's apparent to me that there's no clear path for Sen. Clinton to get the nomination," said Patrick, a United Steelworkers official. "I'm absolutely convinced after [Tuesday] night that we have a nominee now."

Former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright, a Clinton superdelegate, said that the fight will go on and that each candidate has a right to continue.

"I don't think that does anything except prolong the process," Wright said.

'This thing is done'

Texas superdelegate Moses Mercado said he believes that the process is already over.

"We're having a wonderful day in Obama world," said Mercado, who lives in Hidalgo County. "This thing is done. The only one who doesn't think so is Sen. Clinton."

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, says Tuesday's primaries did not affect his support for Clinton. "A pledge is a pledge," he said. "I'm for winning primaries, but I'm more concerned about winning November."

Moving on

For now, the race is still on, said Roy LaVerne Brooks, vice-chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.

"It makes my heart feel so proud to see Americans come out [voting] and do what they should have been doing a long, long time ago," said Brooks, an Obama supporter from Fort Worth.

Staff writer Aman Batheja contributed to this report.