Mississippi Democratic Party chairman Wayne Dowdy said he is committed to Sen. Barack Obama in the presidential race.

Dowdy is a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, and he had been holding off on deciding between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dowdy told The Associated Press that he made his decision Wednesday after becoming convinced that Obama has enough support to secure the nomination. The chairman said he hopes Clinton is chosen for vice president.

Mississippi has seven Democrat superdelegates. Johnnie Patton of Jackson, Everett Sanders of Natchez and Congressman Bennie Thompson are committed to Obama. Those still uncommitted are state party Vice Chairwoman Carnelia Pettis-Fondren of Oxford and congressmen Gene Taylor and Travis Childers.