CNN: Obama takes superdelegate lead

WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- A CNN count indicates Barack Obama has managed to secure more superdelegate votes than rival Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Democratic presidential nomination.

Illinois' junior U.S. senator picked up two more endorsements Monday -- U.S. Rep. Tom Allen of Maine and Dolly Strazar of Hawaii.

"Most of the primary voters across the nation have now spoken. It is time to bring a graceful end to the primary campaign," Allen said.

Strazar said she is convinced now is the time for the party to unite behind a single candidate.

CNN said the endorsements put Obama's tally at 275 to Clinton's 273. Overall, Obama leads Clinton in delegates 1,866 to 1,697, with six primaries and 274 delegates remaining -- West Virginia Tuesday, Oregon and Kentucky next week, Puerto Rico June 1 and Montana and South Dakota June 3.

A candidate needs more than 2,024 confirmed delegate votes to secure the Democratic Party nomination for president.