Obama mobbed, congratulated on the House floor (WP) [View All]

[psychopomp]

Representatives received the Illinois senator as if he were already the nominee


Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) waves to tourists from Illinois as he is followed by the news media through the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, May 8, 2008. (Associated Press)

Updated 4:25 p.m.
By Shailagh Murray
Sen. Barack Obama was mobbed on the House floor this morning as he hunted for superdelegates to lock up the Democratic nomination. Republicans, Clinton supporters, his own backers and more than a few undecided Democrats received the Illinois senator as if he were already the nominee.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton spent Wednesday in D.C. trying to lobby uncommitted House superdelegates, but she asked them to come to her and had limited success persuading busy lawmakers to leave the Capitol. Obama showed up on their turf, walking into a packed chamber this morning in the middle of a vote.

He headed over to the "Murtha" corner to visit with the Pennsylvania delegation. Rep. Jack Murtha, the dean of delegation, is a Clinton man, but Keystone state buddies Mike Doyle, Paul E. Kanjorski, Jason Altmire and Robert Brady remain uncommitted. Obama yucked it up with all of them, including Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri, another Clinton backer and Murtha friend.

The senator's escorts included Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Steven Rothman (N.J.), an early defector from a pro-Clinton state, who hovered nearby for the entire 40-minute session, whispering names into Obama's ear and beaming proudly. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (Calif.), a Clinton supporter, waited her turn to extend a warm handshake. Uncommitted Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.) got a few minutes of quality schmooze time. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer bowed gallantly and gave Obama a big hug. The Maryland Democrat is neutral -- officially at least.

/snip
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/05/08/obamamania_hits_the_house_floo.html