In the past few months, I’ve heard two very different stories from Washington state superdelegates.

One of the superdelegates, David McDonald, is still uncommitted.  He said last month that his vote will consider the interests of the Democratic party as a whole and aim to bring the best result in November: a Democrat in the White House.

He also said he prefers to remain uncommitted so he can use his vote to help the party decide on a nominee if the race remains tight.

“I don’t think we’re going to step in while the process is in motion,” McDonald said, referring to other uncommitted superdelegates.

That’s not what Washington state superdelegate and Sen. Barack Obama supporter Pat Notter thinks.  I spoke with her by phone the day after Sen. Hillary Clinton won primaries in Ohio and Texas.  She said she retained confidence in her candidate, but urged other superdelegates to commit to him.

“I think [Obama] is still strongly in the lead and I think the superdelegates should commit to the campaign,” Notter said.  “I think it will soon get ugly and [superdelegates] need to be coming out fast.”

Notter told me that she declared her support for Obama around Jan. 1.  It was a decision a year in the making, she said.

“I saw him speak a year ago, in January. I felt a concern that a number of DNC members felt at that time - that he was light on issues,” Notter explained.  “I was concerned about his experience.  The more I heard him speak and read about his positions over the year, it was clear that he was as strong as anyone who was running for president.  His positions were well thought out and were quite good.  Those accusations and concerns were unjustified.”

Notter said she thinks superdelegates play an important role in campaigns and should use their status to help their chosen candidates.

“It was clear to me that you can be much more helpful if you commit early,” she said.  “I felt like I had this position, I met these people, heard speeches, went to receptions - after a year of doing that, it was pretty clear to me who had the qualities and qualifications.  I want to be effective as I can in supporting the candidate.”

Unlike McDonald, who is a member of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee and has been a superdelegate since 1992, Notter thinks a superdelegate’s role is more about representing her state’s preference.

“I think superdelegates who didn’t come out early need to look strongly at the citizens that they’re representing in their states and how they voted.  I think the superdelegates in Washington state should vote for Obama,” she explained.  “[Washington voters] have said very clearly that they want Obama - I don’t see why [superdelegates] would do any differently.”

Notter has only been a DNC member for a few years.  She described herself as “a grassroots volunteer and organizer” who works mainly in Wenatchee, where she lives.

Notter started out working in the local school district and was on the Wenatchee city commission for six years.  Her political experience is “sort of the mom-in-tennis-shoes thing, like Patty Murray,” she said.  Her background, when compared to McDonald’s longtime, national DNC experience, may help explain why she views her superdelegate role much differently.

“Apparently superdelegates are supposed to be bringing their experience as long-time political leaders in the mix here, to make the decision that is best for the party,” Notter said.  “I’m not one of those people who has experience at the national level.  Folks who do, like people who have been doing this for 20 years - those people are looking at this from a different perspective.  They may have some party mending to do.  I’m just looking to represent my state here.”