From the Associated Press:

Barack Obama's march toward the Democratic presidential nomination picked up support from four more superdelegates Wednesday, pushing him ever closer to victory ...

... Though Obama padded his delegate lead in Tuesday's primaries, most uncommitted superdelegates still want to remain on the sidelines. The Associated Press interviewed more than 70 undeclared superdelegates or their representatives Wednesday, and many said they don't want to get involved until the voting ends June 3.

... Virginia state House member Jennifer McClellan is one of at least nine superdelegates who have switched from Clinton to Obama since the Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5. There have been no public switches in the other direction.

"I think the time has come to support Senator Obama as the likely nominee," McClellan said in a conference call with reporters. "Given what happened last night, it's very unlikely we will have a different result, and it is time to come together as a party and prepare for victory against John McCain in November."

Obama also got the support of North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek, North Carolina Democratic National Committee member Jeanette Council and California DNC member Inola Henry.

... "I think that Senator Obama is going to be a tremendous boost for down-ballot races in North Carolina," Meek told the AP. "He's going to turn out segments of the electorate - particularly young people and African-Americans - who have historically low turnout levels. That will help candidates up and down the ballot."

From the Rapid City Journal:

Superdelegate Kalyn Free, one of the most influential women in Native American politics, announced on Monday her support for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Her endorsement brings solid consensus in support of Obama among all Native superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention this August in Denver.

"I'm seeing a rebirth and reawakening in this country to political activism," Free, a DNC at-large member, said Monday. "We're seeing something in this country we haven't seen since the late '60s. We're seeing record numbers of people getting involved. The catalyst for all this, the common denominator, is Sen. Barack Obama. He has lit a fire in many hearts across the country."

The Choctaw woman from Oklahoma said she embraces Obama's commitment to bring Native people into the national political discussion, including a pledge to invite tribes to an annual White House summit and to include Natives in his administration.

Free is one of only three Natives nationwide who have risen to the top voting ranks as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention.

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

"Kentucky matters a lot and we're excited to be here," said Betsy Myers [chief operating officer of Obama's campaign], who left her post as head of the Center for Public Leadership at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in January to join the campaign. "Barack will be here a lot."

... She said the benefit to Obama of an extended primary is that he can personally deliver his message of change to Kentucky voters, which will help him gain in the polls and lay the groundwork for the fall general election.

"As they know us, they come our way," she said of voters.

... Myers told the Democratic women Wednesday that Obama has repeatedly backed up his calls for change with actions, such as announcing energy conservation policies in front of automakers in Detroit and describing a proposed federal gas tax holiday as a "political gimmick."

"It's refreshing, isn't it, that someone isn't going to test the polls every five minutes?" Myers asked rhetorically.

... Both campaigns have opened more than a dozen local offices in Kentucky.

From KATU TV:

Now that the Indiana and North Carolina primaries are out of the way, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination moves to Oregon.

The Clinton and Obama campaigns tell KATU News it is time to kick things up a notch ahead of the May 20 primary.

The Obama side touts its grassroots campaign, which continues to grow.

"We've registered more than 30,000 Democrats in Oregon. That's going to change the makeup of the political landscape here," said Shapiro.

... The Obama campaign claims it has 35,000 people signed up to help.

... The Obama campaign announced they have received new support from over half of the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature.

From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph:

It's a new day in politics for West Virginia — and an exciting one at that. Not since John F. Kennedy campaigned for president in 1960 have Mountain State voters actually had a hand in selecting a presidential candidate.

... Roadside signs and campaign activists supporting Obama are flourishing across the southern counties — side-by-side with literature and promoters of the Clinton camp.

... When you think about it, it's a great day to be an American.

No matter your preference of candidate for the Democratic nomination, the Clinton-Obama battle is proof that people — even the "little people" — still have a voice in government.

Rich, poor, rural or cosmopolitan, each and every vote is crucial in this election. And that's the way our forefathers envisioned the political structure of this country when they designed our blueprint for government while penning the Declaration of Independence and, later, the Constitution more than 200 years ago.

... The Clinton-Obama battle has once again generated excitement, passion and enthusiasm in our election process — and not just among political aficionados.

Average Joes — and Josephines — are inspired by this race, and the possibility their vote will make a difference.