Today on the presidential campaign trail

The Associated Press

IN THE HEADLINES

Obama wins endorsements from 9 superdelegates, government employees union ... GOP leader says his party benefits from bitter Democratic primary season ... Clinton presses ahead, campaigns in the Blue Grass State

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Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.

In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

"I'm gratified that we've got some superdelegates who are coming our way. And I think we've got a strong case to make that I will be a nominee that can pull the party together and take on John McCain. Our focus has always been on the pledged delegates and just getting the American people to vote for us. And we think that ultimately that should be the strongest measure of who's the nominee," Obama told reporters in Woodburn, Ore.

Clinton also gained two superdelegates.

The developments left the former first lady with 272.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.

Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.

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Boehner: GOP benefits from Democratic contest

WEST CHESTER, Ohio (AP) - The dragging presidential primary contest between Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama is only helping the GOP, said Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner.

Boehner said the fight will only help likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

"If you look at the damage they're doing to each other, it's serious," he said Friday during a visit to his southwest Ohio congressional district for the Butler County Lincoln Day Dinner. "The longer they fight ... that's fine with me.

"McCain is in a solid position to win this year's election."

He urged those in attendance to get out the vote for the November presidential election and said Ohio will be crucial in 2008, just as it was in 2004 and 2000.

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Clinton campaigns in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton, pressing on with her presidential campaign, says Kentucky "will play a major role" in choosing the Democratic nominee.

Clinton was the headliner Friday evening for a Kentucky Democratic Party fundraiser that was expected to raise at least $100,000 to bolster the campaigns of state-level candidates for seats in Frankfort and Washington. It was Clinton's third visit to Kentucky this year.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.