Obama Camp: We'll Win The Nomination On May 20

CHICAGO (CBS) ― It looks like the end is near for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. CBS 2 has learned that Barack Obama is ready to celebrate winning the Democratic nomination for president on May 20, the day two more states hold their primaries. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports on that day, Obama expects to cross a threshold that, his aides say in the past, has always guaranteed the Democratic nomination. He expects to have collected a majority of the pledged convention delegates. Obama spoke briefly Thursday at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Earlier, he met privately with Democratic superdelegates. He needs their support to nail down the presidential nomination, even as he prepares to celebrate a landmark achievement that his campaign claims should guarantee him victory. "I won't count any chickens before they're hatched," Obama said. On Capitol Hill Thursday, his colleagues gave him the star treatment. Reporters often follow Obama through the U.S. Capitol, but when the Illinois senator stepped onto the floor of the House of Representatives during a vote Congressional colleagues surrounded him. Among those offering congratulations on Obama's strong showing Tuesday were several so-far uncommitted superdelegates, people who will ultimately decide the winner of the close contest between Obama and Clinton. "I think my main message is whichever way you want to go, the sooner that the superdelegates make their decision, the sooner we'll have a sense of who the nominee will be and the sooner we can focus on John McCain," Obama said. "It's all about psychology," said political commentator Roland Martin. "That is, you want to create the impression, even if you don't have 2,025, you are the nominee." As Obama shifts his focus to the likely Republican nominee, at his campaign headquarters on Michigan Avenue campaign workers are planning a big celebration for the evening of May 20, when votes will be counted in Kentucky and Oregon and they expect Obama will have clinched a majority of the elected, pledged delegates. "We are building toward that day when we can claim a majority of the pledged delegates, and we believe that's going to be on May 20 and I believe that's gonna be a big night for those of us in this camapaign," said Obama political strategist, David Axelrod. But Rep. Jack Franks, a Clinton supporter, countered, "Declaring mission accomplished doesn't make it so – all you have to do is ask George Bush about that. And that's why we have to take this to the convention and let the delegates decide." Illinois co-chair of the Clinton campaign, Franks said the goal of superdelegates and all Democrats should be to nominate the strongest candidate. He predicted Clinton would eventually win.