Half of the state's 10 superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention have already committed to one of the party's two remaining presidential nominees. People shouldn't hold their breath waiting for the rest to follow suit.

Superdelegates are not elected as convention delegates and gain their position by holding office in the party or in state or national government. They are not bound by their states' primaries or caucuses, but can support whomever they want at the convention.

Although they're around every election, superdelegates have become more important as the race between Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., remains close heading toward the party's national convention.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller and U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, both superdelegates, have endorsed Obama. Rockefeller and his wife, Sharon, are scheduled to campaign with the Illinois senator in West Virginia later this week.

A Rahall spokeswoman said the congressman is out of the country this week and will not be campaigning with Obama.

Three other superdelegates - National Committeeman Pat Maroney, National Committeewoman Marie Prezioso and state Vice Chairwoman Belinda Biafore - have endorsed Clinton.

"We are going to be a key state," Prezioso said. "Every delegate is going to count."

State Democratic Chairman Nick Casey, also a superdelegate, said he has no plans to endorse either candidate before the state's primary.

"I've got two substantial candidates out there I've got to stay in between," Casey said.

Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin also doesn't plan to endorse a candidate, said spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg. However, the governor has switched his schedule around so he can be in the state when both candidates are here this week, she said.

"The party's been rolling out the red carpet for both of them," said Casey.

The other superdelegates have also remained uncommitted. U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., usually does not endorse candidates before primaries, a spokesman said earlier. The state's other Democratic congressman, Rep. Alan Mollohan, doesn't plan to endorse either candidate, said spokesman Gerry Griffith.

The state's other superdelegate is Alice Germond, national secretary of the Democratic National Committee. Germond, wife of longtime political columnist Jack Germond, lives in Jefferson County. She is also out of the country, and as a national party officer would probably not make an early endorsement.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5192.

Half of the state's 10 superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention have already committed to one of the party's two remaining presidential nominees. People shouldn't hold their breath waiting for the rest to follow suit.

Superdelegates are not elected as convention delegates and gain their position by holding office in the party or in state or national government. They are not bound by their states' primaries or caucuses, but can support whomever they want at the convention.

Although they're around every election, superdelegates have become more important as the race between Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., remains close heading toward the party's national convention.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller and U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, both superdelegates, have endorsed Obama. Rockefeller and his wife, Sharon, are scheduled to campaign with the Illinois senator in West Virginia later this week.

A Rahall spokeswoman said the congressman is out of the country this week and will not be campaigning with Obama.

Three other superdelegates - National Committeeman Pat Maroney, National Committeewoman Marie Prezioso and state Vice Chairwoman Belinda Biafore - have endorsed Clinton.

"We are going to be a key state," Prezioso said. "Every delegate is going to count."

State Democratic Chairman Nick Casey, also a superdelegate, said he has no plans to endorse either candidate before the state's primary.

"I've got two substantial candidates out there I've got to stay in between," Casey said.

Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin also doesn't plan to endorse a candidate, said spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg. However, the governor has switched his schedule around so he can be in the state when both candidates are here this week, she said.

"The party's been rolling out the red carpet for both of them," said Casey.

The other superdelegates have also remained uncommitted. U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., usually does not endorse candidates before primaries, a spokesman said earlier. The state's other Democratic congressman, Rep. Alan Mollohan, doesn't plan to endorse either candidate, said spokesman Gerry Griffith.

The state's other superdelegate is Alice Germond, national secretary of the Democratic National Committee. Germond, wife of longtime political columnist Jack Germond, lives in Jefferson County. She is also out of the country, and as a national party officer would probably not make an early endorsement.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5192.