Superdelegate Colón backs Obama

Brian Colón, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and a superdelegate, endorsed Barack Obama in the presidential primary on Saturday.

“Barack Obama has proven to inspire a movement that has brought a record number of people into the process,” Colón said in a news release. “He’s proven to be a candidate who can compete and will fight hard to expand the Democratic Party’s reach and put Western states in play in the general election. His message of change is resonating across all ages, races and economic backgrounds in New Mexico.”

He also said Obama has run a positive campaign.

“As I talk to Democrats all over New Mexico, they are increasingly concerned with the negative tone that the campaign has taken,” the chairman said. “I believe that Senator Obama has presented a positive message of change while continuing to focus on our real opponent – a John McCain presidency and another four-year term of failed Bush policies.”

Colón said Obama “has run a different campaign – one that goes beyond the things that divide us and is driven by a commitment to real change that starts at the grassroots level.” He noted New Mexico’s “very close” election on Feb. 5 – which Hillary Clinton won – and said there is a lot of excitement among Democrats. He called both candidates “very talented.”

Expect many to take issue with Colón saying Obama has run a positive campaign and taking an apparent shot at his opponent for turning the contest negative. The back-and-forth attacks between both campaigns have come to characterize the primary race in recent months.

The tally now among New Mexico superdelegates is six for Clinton, four for Obama and two who have not publicly announced their decisions – U.S. Rep. Tom Udall and activist Laurie Weahkee. As I’ve already written, Colón has taken some heat from Clinton supporters for the selection of Weahkee. Some superdelegates who back Clinton have said they suspect Weahkee is an Obama supporter even though she says she hasn’t made a decision. They have accused Colón, who was unpledged at the time of Weahkee’s selection on April 26, of breaking party rules.

Expect, now that Colón has revealed his support for the other candidate, that the Clinton supporters will be even more upset. They can appeal Weahkee’s selection to the Democratic National Committee, but have not announced whether they will do that.