Another group consists of "distinguished party leaders" -- 23 elder statesmen and former high-ranking officials, including former Presidents Clinton and Carter and former Vice President Al Gore. Jim Wright, the former speaker of the House from Texas, also falls into this category.
Wright left Congress in 1989, a casualty of an ethics investigation into his financial dealings. Now 85, he teaches part-time and works for a life insurance company in Waco. As for his presidential preference, he said, "I want to support Hillary. That's my plan."
The bulk of the superdelegates are the 411 Democratic National Committee members. These include Millin of Wyoming, Marquez of Colorado and Stampolis of Santa Clara.
They've taken different routes to become members of the national committee. Millin, for example, said he became a member by virtue of serving as Wyoming Democratic Party chairman; Stampolis was elected by the California Democratic Party's executive board.
Many superdelegates already have become the focus of fevered public scrutiny. When one ditches a candidate for another, it can be a sensation. A report last week that Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, an icon of the civil rights movement, might abandon Clinton for Obama made national news.
Both candidates are targeting superdelegates in aggressive lobbying campaigns.
Carol Ann Campbell, a superdelegate from Philadelphia, which votes April 22, played for a reporter a recent voice mail from Michelle Obama.
"Hi, Carol, this is Michelle Obama. I'm the wife of Barack Obama, who is running for president. Just reaching out to see where you stand on this presidential race, and obviously we want your public support of Barack.
"Your primary [in Pennsylvania] is coming up soon and we hope to do well there, but we want people on board who are supportive as soon as possible."
The would-be first lady left a telephone number and urged Campbell to call.
Campbell said in an interview she was "somewhat" leaning toward Clinton.
"Not so much because of her," she said, "but because of her husband. A brilliant man."
Myron Lowery is a Memphis City Council member and a superdelegate who recently retired from FedEx. A Clinton backer, he talked with both of the Clintons -- along with daughter Chelsea -- as they sought his support.
Lowery said he told the former president that Clinton-Obama would be a dream ticket. The former president's reply?
