Lewis Dropping Clinton Support To Endorse Obama

[simple_male 1]

Report: Lewis to endorse Obama 54 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Civil rights leader John Lewis has dropped his support for Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid in favor of Barack Obama, according to a newspaper report Wednesday.

Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Atlanta, is the most prominent black leader to defect from Clinton's campaign in the face of near-majority black support for Obama in recent voting. He also is a superdelegate who gets a vote at this summer's national convention in Denver.

"It's been a long, hard difficult struggle to come to where I am," Lewis told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview. "But when I am, as a superdelegate, I plan to cast my vote at the convention for Barack Obama."

Lewis' constituents supported Obama roughly 3-to-1 in Georgia's Feb. 5 primary. His endorsement had been a coveted prize among the Democratic candidates thanks to his standing as one of the last major civil rights leaders of the 1960s.

Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota endorsed Obama on Wednesday, citing his record on trade.

"Senator Obama has never felt ... that NAFTA was good for America," Dorgan said in a campaign conference call with reporters.

Dorgan said Obama has supported key trade issues. "He and I feel the same way. We both believe in trade and plenty of it. We just insist it that it be fair to our country — the rules be fair."

NAFTA, the free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, is unpopular with blue-collar workers whose votes are critical in the Democratic primary Tuesday in Ohio.

Obama has won 11 straight primaries and caucuses since Super Tuesday, increased his advantage in the all-important delegate count and has attracted the support of his congressional colleagues. On Tuesday, he secured the endorsement of one-time presidential candidate Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut.

Clinton has been endorsed by 13 of her Senate colleagues, Obama 10.

Dorgan was an ally of former President Clinton and a vocal critic of President Bush. As chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, he has led hearings on government accountability issues related to the Iraq war and hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.

Dorgan has built a reputation for championing populist farm programs, criticizing Republican free-trade policies and assailing big business. He made headlines in 2005 when he called for a windfall profits tax on major oil companies.

Last year, he authored a measured to block funding of a Department of Transportation pilot program required under NAFTA that would have opened the U.S. to cross-border long-haul Mexican tractor trailers. The program was opposed by the Teamsters Union, among others.

[GaryC 7]

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... in the face of near-majority black support for Obama in recent voting.

near-majority?

Is that what they call a 85-15 or 90-10 margin these days?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

[simple_male 1]

... in the face of near-majority black support for Obama in recent voting.

near-majority?

Is that what they call a 85-15 or 90-10 margin these days?

Good Point! Maybe 100-0 is majority.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think that places the emphasis on the wrong thing. Surely this superdelegate switched support based on the policy of the candidate and the fact that it synched more neatly with his ideals rather than some, "he's a black fella so I'll support him now he might win" shift?

At least, I would hope so, because just to support someone based on colour or gender is somewhat silly.

[simple_male 1]

I think that places the emphasis on the wrong thing. Surely this superdelegate switched support based on the policy of the candidate and the fact that it synched more neatly with his ideals rather than some, "he's a black fella so I'll support him now he might win" shift?

At least, I would hope so, because just to support someone based on colour or gender is somewhat silly.

Not a loyal superdelegate!

[Peikko 1,575]

If you missed my point, it was in reference to the article's promotion of the near blanket black support notion. I don't think that gives credence to the real reasons people might be voting for Obama but fixes on the 'colour' issue. That's just my opinion though, I don't really appreciate having people's voting habits broken down by race and gender, it seems somewhat spurious.

[simple_male 1]

If you missed my point, it was in reference to the article's promotion of the near blanket black support notion. I don't think that gives credence to the real reasons people might be voting for Obama but fixes on the 'colour' issue. That's just my opinion though, I don't really appreciate having people's voting habits broken down by race and gender, it seems somewhat spurious.

I agree with you.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This is how the cookie crumbles.