Topeka ? Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates on Monday endorsed Barack Obama’s bid for the party’s presidential nomination.

Gates, one of Kansas’ superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, said he was backing Obama for his ability to win in Republican-dominated states and “his positive campaign.” Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in February’s Kansas caucuses.

Gates joins Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, who have endorsed Obama’s campaign over Clinton.