Susan Davis reports on the presidential race.

Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign gained an additional three superdelegate endorsements so far today, putting him 147 delegates shy of the 2,025 needed to secure the nomination, according to a count offered by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.

obama_wave_ssv_20080513113535.jpg

Barack Obama’s presidential campaign said Tuesday they are 147 delegates shy of securing the nomination (Associated Press)

One of the endorsements came from former Democratic National Committee Chairman and former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, who announced his decision on a conference call with reporters today.

“It was a hard decision for me because I have great personal affection for Sen. Clinton but the business of politics is finding a way to gain the vibrancy in this country that we used to have,” Romer said.

The former governor pushed his position that now is the time for superdelegates to get off the fence and endorse Obama so he can secure the nomination and transition to a general election strategy.

Asked if he believes Sen. Hillary Clinton should suspend her campaign, Romer said he would not make such a call, but noted that the delegate math was compelling and that Obama’s lead “cannot be overcome.”

“It’s obvious that’s for her to decide as she looks at the landscape of the facts she faces,” Romer said, “The sooner we can make it clear I think it will help her in whatever decision she will make.”

Romer estimated that Obama was well-positioned to make the West, including Colorado, highly competitive in a general election campaign against Sen. John McCain. Romer said he was in Colorado last weekend and that local pols were pressing him to endorse. “They were saying, ‘Where are you, Roy? We want to know,’” he said, adding that it became “obvious that it would be helpful if I made my position known.”