Obama Ready on 'Day One,' Kennedy Says

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Public Pumped By Kennedy Endorsement

Attendees at the Kennedy Endorsement of Barack Obama at American University in Washignton, D.C. Monday are inspired by the democratic candidate's momentum.

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Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.) joined the group, and Conrad, who endorsed Obama weeks ago, took the roll. "Obama, Obama, Obama," Conrad said, to himself, McCaskill and the Illinois senator.

"We're for Obama," he said, looking at Tester and Webb. "What about you?"

McCaskill will campaign tomorrow in Missouri with Obama, and before walking away she told him "Get some sleep." Clinton remained out of view, having stepped into the cloakroom during the first vote. There she ran into Kennedy, and the two exchanged greetings, according to people familiar with the conversation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) refused to offer any observations about Kennedy's endorsement. "I'm staying out of the race between Obama and Clinton," Reid said. But others appeared to be wavering. "I'll be letting you know in the next couple of days," said Sen. Patty Murray, a member of the Democratic leadership, whose home state of Washington will hold its Democratic caucuses Feb. 9.

Several senators from highly contested states said they were reluctant to weigh in because their states are likely to be key battlegrounds in the general election. Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. (D), whose father, the late Pennsylvania governor, had a bitter feud with Bill Clinton in the 1990s over abortion politics, said he became close to Clinton and Obama when they stumped for him in 2006, leading him to stay on the sidelines in the endorsement game.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), whose home state played an important role in the 2004 general election, said he may yet make an endorsement before the March primary, but he wants to hear more from Hillary Clinton and Obama on free trade and jobs.

In the House, Clinton has secured 72 endorsements; Obama has 44, and Edwards has 15. That leaves 100 or so Democratic House members who have yet to choose sides.