Posted by Jeff Zeleny at 9 a.m. CDT
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) often has shied away from issuing endorsements in Democratic primary campaigns. He declined, for example, to get involved in the hot-button contest for Cook County Board president. And he found himself answering tough questions after weighing in on the Illinois treasurer's race.
On Thursday night, he gained headlines in Boston for placing his stamp of approval on Deval Patrick's candidacy. Patrick is seeking the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts governor. Like Obama, he is a graduate of Harvard University.
Obama issued his strong endorsement, http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=513617, on the beginning of a busy weekend of political travel. Today, he is delivering a commencement address at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. He travels to New Jersey to campaign for Sen. Bob Menendez. Finally, he makes his way to Ohio, stumping for Democratic candidates for governor and the U.S. Senate.
He is set to deliver the keynote speech Saturday evening at the Ohio Democratic Party's annual fundraising dinner. While he was billed as the top draw for the event, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is a last-minute addition to the program.
No word on whether seniority (Biden) will trump celebrity (Obama) and determine who gets the best speaking slot.
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Comments
Boy! You folks really have a tracking device on Obama. Do you know what time he got up this morning and what he eat breakfast, too?
Posted by: Sue | June 2, 2006 10:38 AM
No day goes by without the Swamp reporting on Senator Obama's every move. Nor should it. We readers, mere mortals that we are, need our daily Obama fix, so that we can bask in the reflected glory of his greatness.
Posted by: Bruce | June 2, 2006 11:55 AM
According to Deval Patrick's own website, "During an interview in January with The Associated Press, Obama said he did not plan to formally endorse Patrick's candidacy...". On June 1st, he endorsed Patrick's candidacy. I guess part of Obama's greatness is that he can contradict himself, and the Tribune won't even mention the contradiction.
Posted by: Bruce | June 2, 2006 12:07 PM
Maybe Sen. Obama does not like the people running.LOL
Posted by: Dale Peters | June 2, 2006 4:51 PM
Jeff,
After you write an article about the "man who walks on water", do you have to smoke a cig?
Posted by: Terry | June 2, 2006 9:39 PM
Unfortunately Obama issued an endorsement for Joe "Elmer Fudd" Lieberman. I really hope Ned Lamont kicks Lieberman's @$$ come August. DINO's go home!
Posted by: Karl B. | June 2, 2006 9:40 PM