WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gushed on Tuesday that his Democratic Party has two “outstanding candidates” but fell silent about who he prefers for the presidential nomination.

Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are battling for the nomination which could come down to who the Democratic superdelegates support — Reid is one of them so his backing could be crucial.

“I can’t hear a word you are saying. Okay?” Reid told reporters when asked the question, drawing laughter.

Reid is one of 796 superdelegates — members of Congress and other party leaders — who will have a vote at the Democratic presidential nominating convention this summer. Superdelegates will join the delegates won by Clinton and Obama in state contests nationwide.

If neither secure the 2,025 delegates needed to win the nomination by the time the convention convenes, superdelegates will end up deciding who is the party’s 2008 standard bearer.

Reid, who represents Nevada in the Senate, has remained neutral in the race. But his son, Rory Reid, a county commissioner in Nevada, helped Clinton win the state presidential contest earlier this year.

Reid brushed off a question if there would be risks to the party if the nomination race isn’t soon wrapped up.

“We have two outstanding candidates, Clinton and Obama,” Reid said. “When this is decided — I don’t know when it will be decided — but the other will step behind the other one and support them 100 percent.”

“I am totally satisfied with this process.  I think it’s been the best presidential election that I’ve been involved in,” Reid said.  

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- Photo credit: Reuters/Joshua Roberts (Reid speaks to reporters earlier this year.)