Superdelegate gap narrows with 3 Obama endorsements

Sen. Barack Obama picked up endorsements yesterday from three U.S. House members, allowing him to close in on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's lead among Democratic superdelegates.

Reps. David E. Price and Melvin L. Watt of North Carolina and Andre Carson of Indiana said they were backing Obama. Clinton announced the endorsement of Rep. Jackie Speier of California.

Obama now has endorsements from 91 Capitol Hill colleagues; Clinton has 94.

All told, Obama, of Illinois, has the support of 231 superdelegates and Clinton, of New York, 260, excluding Michigan and Florida, according to a tally by Bloomberg News based on lists supplied by the campaigns. Among all delegates, Obama leads Clinton 1,641 to 1,504, according to an unofficial count by the Associated Press, with 2,025 needed for the nomination. - Bloomberg News

WASHINGTON - Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha (D., Pa.) said yesterday that Republican Sen. John McCain, 71, was too old to be president.

Murtha is 75 and says the rigors and stress of running the country is too much for guys their age.

"This one guy running is about as old as me," he told a union audience, drawing laughter and applause. "Let me tell you something: It's no old man's job."

If elected, McCain would be the oldest man elected to a first term as president. He told CNN yesterday: "All I can tell you is that I admire and respect Jack Murtha. Speak for yourself, Jack. I'm doing fine. Thanks."

Murtha made the comments while introducing Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom he has endorsed, to the AFL-CIO's Building Trades National Legislative Conference.

Her campaign sought to distance itself from Murtha's comments on McCain's age. Spokesman Mo Elleithee said Clinton, 60, considered McCain "a friend, and she respects him. But it's not his age she has a problem with. It's his ideas for the future." - AP

WASHINGTON - John McCain's presidential campaign reprimanded an intern for claiming that several Food Network recipes were those of McCain's wife, Cindy.

His campaign Web site had featured "McCain Family Recipes" including Passion Fruit Mousse, Ahi Tuna With Napa Cabbage Slaw, and Farfalle Pasta With Turkey Sausage, Peas and Mushrooms, all seemingly identical to Food Network recipes. Another recipe, for rosemary chicken breasts and warm spinach salad with bacon, was similar to one by celebrity chef Rachael Ray.

"One of our Web interns apparently appointed Rachael Ray as the senior policy adviser in our campaign's department of gourmet," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said yesterday. "The intern was dealt with swiftly, and the site is down for revision. Our apologies to the Food Network."

The Huffington Post blew the whistle Tuesday on the pirated recipes. - AP