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Will New Hampshire Go the Way of Iowa?
TORN BETWEEN TWO HOPEFULS
Campaigning in Iowa, Democrat John Edwards speaks at a high school in Sibley.
(By Brian Korthals -- Worthington Daily Globe Via Associated Press)
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Massachusetts Governor Endorses Obama
A week after a courting process that ended with civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) endorsing Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) collected the endorsement of another key African American Democrat who had also been wooed actively by Clinton: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
Earlier this year, Patrick, the nation's only black governor, had described himself as torn between Obama, a friend and political ally who campaigned for him in Massachusetts last year, and Clinton, wife of the president under whom Patrick served as assistant attorney general for civil rights. Patrick took note of his past relationship with the Democratic candidates in an e-mail to supporters. "But frankly, I believe the importance of this election transcends friendships and party. I believe we need unifying, visionary leadership. I believe we need a President who will level with the American people. I believe we need Barack Obama."
Patrick and Obama have much in common beyond their race: Both graduated from Harvard Law School, won upset victories in their first statewide races, relied on Chicago-based consultant David Axelrod for help in their wins and rely heavily on the theme of "hope" in their speeches.
The battle for Patrick's endorsement was the latest front in the ongoing battle between Clinton and Obama for black support, a battle waged in beauty shops in South Carolina, black churches and, in the case of Lewis, in the halls of Congress. Earlier this year, Lewis was on the verge of announcing his support for Obama but former president Bill Clinton asked him to hold off. When he finally endorsed Hillary Clinton, Obama's campaign put out a tersely worded statement that implied that Lewis backed her only because of loyalty to her husband.
-- Perry Bacon Jr.
