Clinton ally defects to Obama camp

Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the White House has suffered another blow with one of her congressional black supporters switching allegiance to rival Barack Obama.

Another congressman is also discussing a possible defection to Mr Obama who has a narrow lead over the former First Lady in a desperately close race for the Democratic nomination.

If the contest between Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama remains deadlocked before the party’s convention, it will fall to the superdelegates – party grandees – to decide which candidate will challenge for the presidency in November.

Representative David Scott’s defection and Representative John Lewis’ remarks highlight one challenge confronting Mrs Clinton in a campaign that pits a black man against a woman for a nomination that historically has been the exclusive property of white men.

“You’ve got to represent the wishes of your constituency,” Mr Scott said.

“My proper position would be to vote the wishes of my constituents.”

Mr Scott represents a district that gave more than 80% of its vote to Mr Obama in the February 5 Georgia primary.

Mr Lewis, whose Atlanta-area district voted three to one for Mr Obama, said he is not yet ready to abandon his backing for the former First Lady.

But in an interview, Mr Lewis likened Mr Obama to Robert F. Kennedy in his ability to generate campaign excitement, and left open the possibility he might swing behind the Illinois senator.

“It could (happen). There’s no question about it. It could happen with a lot of people. ... We can count, and we see the clock,” Mr Lewis said.