Obama expects to clinch nomination next week

link:

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2835704020080529

snip:"CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sen. Barack Obama said on Wednesday he expected to become the Democratic U.S. presidential nominee after next week and he is considering an overseas trip that may include Iraq.

After a hard-fought primary season against rival Democrat Hillary Clinton, Obama said the general election race will begin in earnest next week after the last two nominating contests are held in South Dakota and Montana."

snip:"Obama is leading in pledged delegates, and more and more superdelegates are announcing their plans to endorse him and help him surpass the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination.

"We're only a few days away," said Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president."

snip:"The Illinois senator, 46, predicted he would be in a "pretty strong position" to clinch the nomination after a Saturday meeting by party officials and Tuesday's votes.

On Saturday, Democratic officials will work on a compromise over disputed nominating contests in Michigan and Florida. Obama said a resolution on how to seat those delegates would be important to "put the Michigan/Florida issue behind us."

"At that point all the information will be in," he said. "There will be no more questions unanswered. I suspect that whatever remaining superdelegates will be able to make their decisions quickly after that."


snip:""I think that if I'm going to Iraq, then I'm there to talk to troops and talk to commanders, I'm not there to try to score political points or perform," Obama told the paper. "The work they're doing there is too important."

Aides to Obama have been quietly discussing a foreign trip for weeks, but the prolonged battle with Clinton has delayed making firm plans."

link to full article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2835704020080529?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10112

That they'll make sure this is the case.

(whatever number that ends up being) I suspect that Hillary will push forward to the convention.

and an engraved invitation to the Hillary Inaugural Ball (the BIG one, not the ones for peasants).