WASHINGTON - Some of Minnesota's Democratic Party luminaries and elected officials known as superdelegates say the drawn-out nomination fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama underscores a need for a better way to pick a presidential candidate.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, an Obama supporter, said there are too many party insiders or elected officials with sway over the next Democratic presidential nomination.

"I think the system is ripe for reform," Klobuchar said.

She said superdelegates, who are not bound by the voters, should account for about 10 percent of the Democratic delegates as opposed to the current 20 percent.

Nationally, there are about 800 unpledged superdelegates out of 4,049 who will meet in August at the Democratic Convention in Denver. Clinton leads Obama in the committed superdelegate count, 259-235, according to USA Today.

Neither Clinton nor Obama is expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination because of the Democrats' rules on how delegates are allotted. Obama leads with 1,724 pledged delegates; Clinton has 1,593, according to The Associated Press. That's why the nomination could hinge on superdelegates.

So far, 10 of Minnesota's superdelegates say they are supporting Obama; three are backing Clinton. One, Rep. Collin Peterson, is undecided. Peterson did not make himself available for an interview. Two additional delegates will be selected at the state convention June 6-8.

Obama won the Feb. 5 state primary 66.4 percent to 32.2 percent for Clinton and won every congressional district, according to the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Klobuchar also is sponsoring legislation in Congress to establish a rotating regional primary system to avoid the debacles that occurred in Florida and Michigan. Party leaders have penalized Florida and Michigan for holding early primaries by refusing to confirm the states' delegates.

"We need to put some order to this chaos," she said.

Klobuchar said the current primary system is "confusing and volatile" and has evolved into a "primary arms race."

States "are trying to leapfrog one another to be first," she said. "It turns out the ones that were later (this year) were in a better position" to determine the nominee.

Clinton supporter Jackie Stevenson, a Democratic National Committee member, said she has mixed views on the role of superdelegates.

"The good is that you have people with experience who understand how government really works," she said.

The downside, she said, is the pressure.

"I've received some positive feedback, but I've also received about 20 threatening e-mails because I support Hillary Clinton," she said. "I consider myself a die-hard Clinton supporter. I'll look for direction from Clinton to change my vote."

Nancy Larson, a DNC member and Obama supporter, said there are too many superdelegates and agreed the system needs to be reformed.

"This system hasn't worked very well," she said.

Larson, who announced her support for Obama on April 13, relishes the independence of superdelegates.

"Right now, I'm committed to Obama," she said. "But I have to respect that role and that I can change my mind."

By Pamela Brogan, St Cloud Times, April 27, 2008