A pledged delegate for Hillary Rodham Clinton (web|news|bio) says he now supports Barack Obama (web|news|bio), becoming the first pledged delegate to publicly announce that he's switching sides in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Jack Johnson, the county executive of Prince George's County, says he believes Obama has sealed the nomination. He says Clinton has "fallen a little short of the line" needed to be the party's candidate in the general election.

Johnson says he'll encourage other state party leaders backing Clinton to throw their support to Obama.

Democrats apportion delegates to their August convention based on the size of the vote that candidates receive in each state primary.

Clinton won 36 percent of the vote in Maryland's Democratic primary on February 12th. She was awarded 28 pledged delegates, including Johnson. 

Maryland Democratic Party spokesman David Paulson says pledged delegates are under no obligation to stick with their candidate.

This is the second time Johnson has switched sides. He allowed his name to be used as an Obama supporter in December, then endorsed Clinton a few days before the Maryland primary in February.

Email To A Friend