Pa. congressman, a superdelegate, backs Clinton

WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday gained the endorsement of one of Pennsylvania's remaining uncommitted Democratic superdelegates.

U.S. Rep. Chris Carney released a statement early Friday that said he would back her, because his district supported Clinton by a more than 2-1 margin in the state's April 22 primary.

Carney had pledged to back the candidate who won the district. He met with Clinton on Wednesday and let her know Thursday he is supporting her, he said.

"I will respect their decision," he said of his constituents.

Carney represents a historically Republican district in northeastern Pennsylvania. The GOP views him as vulnerable in the November election, when he will face challenge from business owner Chris Hackett.

Neither Clinton nor her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, can pick up enough delegates in the remaining six primaries to claim the Democratic nomination. That makes the additional delegates , the party elders and other "superdelegates" like Carney , more critical.

Pennsylvania's remaining undeclared Democratic superdelegates are Reps. Bob Brady in Philadelphia, Mike Doyle in Pittsburgh, Jason Altmire from outside Pittsburgh and Tim Holden in central Pennsylvania.