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Clyburn Endorses Obama

More superdelegates likely to follow

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2008 8:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – House Majority whip James Clyburn, the top-ranking African American in Congress, endorsed Barack Obama this morning, CNN reports. “Senator Obama brings a new vision for our future and new voters to our cause,” Clyburn said. “He has created levels of energy and excitement that I have not witnessed since the 1960s.” Clyburn is the first of today’s expected wave of superdelegate endorsements.

The South Carolina rep’s allegiance is no surprise; his daughter works for Obama, and Clyburn has repeatedly criticized the Clintons for perceived race baiting. But he is the first member of House leadership to endorse, and is pushing hard to get the 73 remaining uncommitted representatives to follow suit. Obama needs 46 more delegates to clinch the nomination.

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., talks with reporters in New Orleans about the efforts in Congress to bring relief to the Gulf Coast some two years after Hurricanes Katrina.
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., talks with reporters in New Orleans about the efforts in Congress to bring relief to the Gulf Coast some two years after Hurricanes Katrina.   (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C. walks to his hotel after arriving in New Orleans Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007, with other lawmakers to tour the Gulf Coast region.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C. walks to his hotel after arriving in New Orleans Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007, with other lawmakers to tour the Gulf Coast region.   (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn talks with reporters in Chalmette, La.,  Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn talks with reporters in Chalmette, La., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.   (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Hillary Rodham Clinton sings We Will Overcome with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., right, Raphael James, left, and Octavia Mitchell, at the 91st Annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on, Sept. 15, 2007.
Hillary Rodham Clinton sings "We Will Overcome" with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., right, Raphael James, left, and Octavia Mitchell, at the 91st Annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on, Sept. 15, 2007.   (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
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