Obama Receives Kerry's Support

By: Dean Reynolds
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News National Correspondent Dean Reynolds, who's covering the Obama campaign:

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- It was a melancholy moment.

There stood John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic Party standard-bearer delivering what he hopes will be a significant endorsement to Barack Obama.

It was only months ago that Kerry was entertaining the idea of another run for the presidency, a job his advocates say he was born to hold.

He came so close four years ago. Those controversial exit polls told him he had defeated George W. Bush. They were wrong, of course.

In the years since Kerry has receded from the stage, never more apparent than during the 2006 congressional election when what he said was a "botched joke" about Bush consigned him to the Democrats' dog house.

And what of John Edwards? Kerry picked him as a running mate and, according to a book by Kerry aide Bob shrum, almost immediatedly regretted it.

Edwards said today he respected Kerry's decision.

In his endorsement, Kerry decried the politics of division and the "swift-boating" of candidates -- a tactic with which he is intimately familiar.

"I support him because he doesn't seek to perfect the politics of swift-boating, but to end it," said Kerry.

"I support Barack Obama because he will help bring the country together again, lead the world and show by example, not by words, that here in America anything is really possible for those who dare to dream and those determined to work for it."

After his rousing remarks, he ceded the spotlight to Obama and took a chair behind him.

Yesterday's man and the man of the moment.

Dean Reynolds
Dean Reynolds is a CBS News National Correspondent based in Chicago.

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by maris01 January 11, 2008 7:30 AM EST: SEE ABC NEWS FOR THE LATEST ON OBAMA. Obama has skeletons in his closet. Look at the blogs carefully too, because a lot of what is said by people there I have researched myself in the past days and found it. Vote on QUALIFICATIONS...a lesson that as Americans we keep having to relearn. Better to know now than later, because Republicans will pull all of this out if and after he is nominated. At least Hillary has already been put under the microscope, so nothing will be left to disclose. I am not saying this to take sides, but rather so that we can vote for the most electable Democratic candidate. God willing!; Reply to this comment


by quietstormx-2009 January 11, 2008 1:36 AM EST: John Kerry introduced Obama to the world in 2004. It is nice to get his support and help against the clintons. They were just wrong in my book about the way they were talking about Barack Obama. Mr. Clinton was just out of order.; Reply to this comment


by quietstormx-2009 January 11, 2008 1:28 AM EST: I thought Kerry''s support is nice. He introduced Obama to the world in 2004. The clintons are through! Move out of the way.; Reply to this comment


by croft777 January 10, 2008 11:08 PM EST: msjentay,
wake up! Where do you get this idea that Clinton is dishonest. If you ask me I''d say your Osama, oops, I mean Obama is the more likely canidate for that.Do you really think that the majority of people in this country would even consider voting for a man with no real background, no experience, and who has some big time muslim ties? He''s a dreamer, and thats all. His loud persuading voice reminds me of Hitler.Is he superman, come to save the world? right... He says hes a Christian, hmmmm...not. His Dad was a muslim, as their law, so is he. Baracka, yes that is his real name and it is a muslim name, why did he take the "A" off? "Baracka Hussin Obama"that name fits in well with all our American Presidents.Ha! Ha! Another strange thing is that Oprah supports him, and Oprah also supports the muslims. Don''t you know that his ties to the muslims would cause major problems for this country if he was president.I can see indifference in the choices he would be making.I wouldn''t trust him as far as I could throw him.We got a war going on, and right now, Obama is not looking to good.; Reply to this comment


by starbasefive January 10, 2008 8:20 PM EST: I can''t believe Senator Kerry is supporting that snake-oil salesman, who hasn''t had enough stripes earned, let alone time in the game, to sell the country the latest in poisons the country is saying, "Aaaa!" to. Apparently, the country needs glasses to see who the con man is, but, we''re all blind to them. Obama is doing what one character that Richard Dreyfuss played in "American President" did, blame the other guy for the mistakes, and not finding a way to fix them. We need real solutions, not fingerpointing. In order to change a thing, you have to know what you''re changing from and into. Using the word, and applying it to the country that has many systems working, it creates anarchy, chaos. If it works, don''t mess with it. But, we are. Healtcare changes needed more work. HIPAA is ignored, and it''s fundamental with Healthcare. Establishing our good name in the country, by taking steps to stablize our enviroment, both economical, and agricultural, also by re-establishing our good name with the world that''s already gone to pot as it is, by not sending our work overseas, and leaving it here to protect our rights, all of these things are needed, yet, no one has a working solution, not even Obama. Clinton is trying, I will give her that. She''s hard, but fair, and not willing to sell us poison to drink, like Obama. I''m not willing to live with a catepillar that eats mushrooms, and smokes his pipe, trying to convince others his way is best.; Reply to this comment


by hhkeller January 10, 2008 6:45 PM EST: Woopy Doody

Kerry who has done nothing to end the war endorses Obama who also voted for the war funding and the continuation of the war.

Two faced politicians with fast words.; Reply to this comment


by msjentay January 10, 2008 5:47 PM EST: Everyone is getting behind Obama because he represents an American spirit we haven''t seen in a long time - leaders with integrity. On the other hand, the Clintons'' sour-grapes reaction after the Iowa caucus was disappointing (their negative attacks on Edwards and Obama were misleading at best. Not according to me, but according to fact-checkers who are following the campaign.) Initially I was a Clinton supporter but quickly saw that she was less than honest.

I can no longer get behind someone who puts politics first and leadership second(including saying anything to sway people against your opponents). People from all backgrounds love Obama because he''s more of a leader than a politician and has resisted returning the negativity.

Thanks John Kerry!; Reply to this comment


by think4aminut January 10, 2008 4:58 PM EST: Thank you for your work following the candidates on the road. It concerns me, however, that Ron Paul is not represented on this blog page. I expect censorship from FOX, but not CBS. I am certain that one of the many people following his campaign, would take on a blog responsibility for this site.; Reply to this comment