[img_assist|nid=2193|title=U.S. Sen. Barack Obama|desc=Photo by Getty Images|link=none|align=none|width=420|height=296]Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor told PolitickerMD.com today that he hopes his decision to publicly endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will "sway" other superdelegates to the same conclusion. Cryor and state party Vice Chairwoman Lauren Dugas Glover, also a superdelegate, announced their endorsement for Obama yesterday at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Cryor, who has privately been an Obama supporter for some time, said he and Dugas Glover "committed to not endorsing until we had set aside all our requirements as a party."

The Maryland Democratic Central Committee finalized the state's delegation to the Democratic National Convention on Saturday.

"I thought it was important to do now," Cryor said, citing the completion of the delegation, the fact that the Maryland primary has long since passed, the importance of today's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean's encouragement of superdelegates to make a decision.

"It seems a little too convenient to wait (until all the nominating contests are completed)," Cryor said, adding, "It lacks passion."

Cryor said he understands why other superdelegates are holding back from making an endorsement, but said, "I want to help the candidate I am supporting."

Maryland still has ten uncommitted superdelegates.

Cryor said he did talk to Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), a close friend and supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), before announcing the announcement.

"He would have preferred that I waited, but he understands what I did and why I did it," Cryor said of the governor.

Cryor said he did not think the endorsement would affect his relationship with O'Malley, adding, "We've already moved beyond it."

In the end, Cryor said his decision came down to "one American making a choice-it's as simple as that."

The chairman credited Obama for bringing "a very different type of climate" to the political table.

"His vision and ideas about governance are essential to reform," Cryor explained, saying his support for the senator was "not just about a policy position."

Cryor said Obama's ability to articulate the "correlation" surrounding issues like the economy, the war in Iraq and energy was important to his success in the campaign.

"He talks about that in a way people understand," Cryor said.

Cryor said his endorsement was based on his belief that Obama would be the best president, not a dislike for Clinton.

"I believe Sen. Clinton has run a masterful campaign in the second phase of her effort," Cryor said.

Cryor also said he was hopeful that the party will come together when a candidate secures the nomination, but said the longevity of the campaign provides an advantage to the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"It makes McCain look far more positive than he is," Cryor said.

In the future, Cryor said the Democratic Party "has to give serious consideration" to reevaluating the superdelegate process, saying the need for superdelegates is "less critical today" given the greater access that people have to news, as compared to 1984, when the process was first implemented.