Kerry to endorse Obama

[Kristina]

January 10, 2008
Kerry to endorse Obama
Posted: 11:00 AM ET


Kerry will endorse Obama's presidential bid, sources tell CNN
 
Kerry will endorse Obama's presidential bid, sources tell CNN
(CNN) – Former 2004 presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, two sources told CNN Thursday.

The announcement will come at 2 p.m. in Charleston, S.C., the sources said.

"(Kerry) remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party and (has) an e-mail list with millions of addresses," an Obama source said.

Kerry ran in 2004 on the Democratic ticket with former Sen. John Edwards, who is running this year for party's presidential nomination.

– CNN's Candy Crowley and Mark Preston
Filed under: Barack Obama • John Edwards • John Kerry

[Adrienne]

Kerry endorses Obama over '04 running mateStory Highlights
NEW: Sen. Barack Obama will bring the country together, Sen. John Kerry says

Kerry was the Democratic presidential candidate in 2004

John Edwards, also running for the '08 Democratic bid, was Kerry's running mate

Obama picked up key endorsements from unions in Nevada this week


     
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (CNN) -- Sen. John Kerry on Thursday endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, saying the senator from Illinois is a "candidate to bring change to our country."




Sen. John Kerry says he's backing Sen. Barack Obama before a crowd Thursday in Charleston, South Carolina.

 "Barack Obama isn't just going to break the mold," said Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate four years ago. "Together, we are going to shatter it into a million pieces."

The senator from Massachusetts made the announcement in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Charleston, South Carolina, 16 days ahead of the state's Democratic primary.

Kerry said he was stirred by the way Obama "eloquently reminded us of the fact that our true genius is faith in simple dreams and insistence on small miracles."  Watch Kerry explain why he's picking Obama »

The endorsement could be seen as a blow to former Sen. John Edwards, who was Kerry's running mate in the 2004 election.

Edwards also is vying for the Democratic presidential nomination this year.

The endorsement shouldn't come as a surprise to Edwards, who was publicly critical of Kerry's campaign after the earlier election.

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Following news of the endorsement, Edwards released a statement saying he respects Kerry's decision.

"When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues," Edwards said. "I continue to believe that this election is about the future, not the past, and that the country needs a president who will fight aggressively to end the status quo and change the Washington system and to give voice to all of those whose voices are ignored in the corridors of power."

Kerry made an oblique reference to the other candidates in the race "with whom I have worked and who I respect" in his speech Thursday.

"They are terrific public servants, and each of them could be president tomorrow, and each would fight to take this country in the right direction, but I believe that more than anyone else, Barack Obama can help our country turn the page and get America moving by uniting and ending the division that we have faced," he said.

A source suggested senator's support for Obama will be a big boost because Kerry "remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party and [has] an e-mail list with millions of addresses."

In an e-mail sent to the JohnKerry.com community Thursday, the former presidential candidate said the next president of the United States "can be, should be, and will be Barack Obama."

A Kerry spokesman said Obama will be sending out a note to Kerry's e-mail list, which was created during the 2004 run and numbers 3 million.


Obama on Wednesday picked up endorsements from two key unions in Nevada, which holds its caucuses January 19.

Atlanta, Georgia, Mayor Shirley Franklin recently announced her endorsement of Obama, and sources said Thursday that Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota also would back the senator from Illinois. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Candy Crowley and Mark Preston contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/kerry.obama/index.html?iref=topnews

[Adrienne]

New congressional nods for Obama's run

Posted: 11:30 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) – South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson will endorse Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president, two sources tell CNN.

Rep. George Miller of California will also back Obama's presidential bid. Miller is a top advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

– CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

Filed under: Barack Obama

[Volitzer]

CFR brothers is arms.

[Bianca]

BAD OMEN FOR OBAMA!!!

[Lady Justice]

Every Presidential candidate who doesn't win is seen as "damaged goods."

From a practical point, though, Kerry still has a lot of money from his 2004 Presidential bid laying around, along with an email list of 3 million names on it.  It's a built in second organization and he'll be giving it right to Barack Obama.

[Lady Justice]

Moreover, Kerry maintains a pretty strong fundraising network and impressive e-mail list of potential donors.

Kerry is putting an e-mail list with millions of addresses at Obama's disposal, according to party sources.

The e-mail list will be very helpful for fundraising as well as organizing. Kerry sent out his first fundraising appeal on Obama's behalf within moments of taking the stage. In the e-mail, Kerry took credit for helping "introduce Barack to our nation when I asked him to speak to our national convention" in 2004.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7830.html

[Volitzer]

Every Presidential candidate who doesn't win is seen as "damaged goods."

From a practical point, though, Kerry still has a lot of money from his 2004 Presidential bid laying around, along with an email list of 3 million names on it.  It's a built in second organization and he'll be giving it right to Barack Obama.

Kerry, Obama, Edwards, they all in the CFR together.