Hoyer won’t commit as a superdelegate, says 'definitive judgment' has not been made in presidential race

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: Photo by Getty ImagesWASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) said voters have yet to make a “definitive judgment” as to who should be the Democratic nominee for president.

The majority leader, one of the party’s superdelegates, has yet to commit to either candidate, and said he had “no plan to declare” in the near future.

“The prize for me is winning the November election,” Hoyer said, adding, “I intend to vote in a way that best accomplishes that.”

He would not say which candidate he preferred, saying, “I’m happy with either.”

Speaking in his Capitol office a day after Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) defeated Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) by almost 10 points in the Pennsylvania primary, Hoyer said both candidates would “make very good presidents.”

Clinton still trails Obama 1488-1331 in pledged delegates, and 1726-1593 when committed superdelegates are added into the equation, according to an NBC News count.

Asked about the perceived negative tone of the presidential campaign, Hoyer said he did not think it was “much different than any campaign for president.” He said having an African-American and a woman as the contenders had added to the intensity of the debate and the sensitivity that some of their supporters may feel.

Hoyer said delegates and superdelegates had a “responsibility” to move the country forward on issues like health care and education.

When asked if superdelegates should vote in the manner in which their individual states voted, Hoyer specifically referred to Maryland’s primary, saying, “The view on Feb. 12 may not be the view on Aug. 12.” Obama carried Maryland by 25 points.

The majority leader also predicted that either candidate “would beat” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the November election.