Rep. Tierney: Democrat choice will be a close call

LYNN – Democrats may not pick a presidential nominee until late summer and party super delegate John Tierney says there is nothing wrong with the campaign dragging on.?Some say it?s not good but hopefully it will keep the focus on the Democrats,” said Tierney, who represents Lynn and rest of the 6th Congressional District.Tierney thinks the tight race for party delegates between candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will run through June and even to August 25-28 when Democrats meet in Denver to anoint a nominee.?It?s the numbers that tell me they will be relatively close,” he said.As one of 26 at-large or super delegates from across Massachusetts and over 700 from around the country, Tierney could find himself in the position of choosing between Obama and Clinton to take on Republican John McCain.His current status as an undecided super delegate sparks curiosity among party members wherever he goes.?I had 10 people just at one event ask, ?Who are you for? Obama? Clinton?? It?s a really a unique opportunity to hear what people think. I just ask them to support whoever the nominee eventually is.”Whoever the nominee is, Republican political consultant and former congressional candidate Alexander Tennant thinks the Democrats will have their work cut out for them with McCain.?He will supercede everyone on national security,” said Tennant in February. Tennant met Obama several years ago and was so impressed with him that Obama dubbed Tennant his “token Republican.”?Obama, I?ve said from day one, is electrifying this country. Clinton is going to have to pull out all the stops,” he said.In addition to Tierney and fellow members of Congress, Gov. Deval Patrick and other party leaders are on the Massachusetts super delegates list. Clinton won the state Democratic primary in February and state party members meet April 5 and at the May 10 convention to pick delegates for the Denver convention.If it comes down to helping choose a nominee at the convention, Tierney said he will assess his own views on both candidates and weigh the views of his constituents. Clinton won Lynn and surrounding communities handily in February but Obama ran a close second to her in Marblehead.Tierney said he will also make up his mind on who to support based on each candidate?s conduct and message in the next several weeks.?I will ask, ?Has anyone done anything to rule them in or out,?” he said.