John Kerry Endorses Barack Obama

Democrats' 2004 Nominee Says Illinois Senator Can Help America "Turn The Page"

(CBS/AP)  Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the White House Thursday in a timely slap at Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as his own vice presidential running mate.

Quoting a black American hero in endorsing the man who hopes to be the first black president, Kerry declared, "Martin Luther King Jr. said the time is always right to do what is right. And I'm here in South Carolina because this is the right time to share with you, to make sure that we know that I have the confidence ... and that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be the next president of the United States."

"This is a well-timed endorsement for Obama," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "After an upset loss in New Hampshire, it helps to reinforce his effort and demonstrate his ability to still attract a measure of institutional support. While not all Democrats remember Kerry's 2004 campaign and defeat fondly, it never hurts to get the endorsement of your party's previous nominee."

Kerry delivered his endorsement in South Carolina at a time, two weeks before that state's primary, when Clinton is riding a wave of enthusiasm following her victory over Obama in the New Hampshire primary.

Kerry said there were other candidates in the race whom he also had worked with and respected.

"But I believe more than anyone else, Barack Obama can help our country turn the page and get America moving by uniting and ending the division we have faced," Kerry said.

Kerry took a swipe at Obama critics who say the Illinois senator lacks the experience to be president.

"We are electing judgment and character, not years on this earth," said Kerry, who added that Obama, an opponent of the Iraq war, was "right about the war in Iraq from the beginning."

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the third contender in the Democratic presidential race, was Kerry's vice presidential running mate in 2004. Despite their political alliance, the two men were not close personally and differed behind the scenes on campaign strategy in a race that President Bush won.

Edwards responded to word of the endorsement with a diplomatic statement: "Our country and our party are stronger because of John's service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues."

Kerry was Obama's political benefactor once before, selecting the relatively unknown Illinois senatorial candidate to deliver the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. It was Obama's first turn in the national spotlight and helped launch him on a remarkable ascent that has made him one of two leading contenders for the party's presidential nomination only four years later.

The Massachusetts senator lost the South Carolina Democratic primary in 2004 to Edwards.

Kerry and Edwards had their differences during the 2004 campaign over strategy and spending, and Edwards has said he would have been more aggressive in challenging the unsubstantiated allegations of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth questioning Kerry's military record.

Kerry's endorsement also was a jab at Clinton, the New York Democrat who won the New Hampshire primary after a loss to Obama in the Iowa caucuses.

Kerry had withheld his endorsement, hoping to have an impact on the race and avoid the fate of fellow Democrat Al Gore, the 2000 nominee who endorsed Howard Dean in 2004 shortly before the former Vermont governor's campaign imploded. Gore has made no endorsement so far this year.

While Kerry has been close to Clinton's husband, the former president, he was incensed in 2006 when she chided him after Kerry suggested that people who don't go to school "get stuck in Iraq." Aides said Kerry meant to jab at Bush and say "get us stuck in Iraq," and that he didn't appreciate Clinton piling onto the criticism he was already getting for the remark.

The Republican National Committee pounced on the endorsement to brand Kerry and Obama "liberal soul mates."

Kerry himself had considered running for president in 2008, but that plan fizzled with the botched remark. For many Democrats, his words revived bitter memories of his missteps in 2004, when he lost to Bush.

As for Obama, Kerry gave the young Illinois state senator his first turn in the national spotlight when he chose him to deliver the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Later that year, Obama won election as a U.S. senator.

Since announcing a year ago he would not make the run, Kerry has prodded Democrats to take a stronger anti-war stance, pushing for troop withdrawal deadlines. In another area, he has backed environmental causes, writing a book with his wife on the issue.

Kerry should be able to provide some organizational and fundraising muscle to Obama.

Since losing the 2004 race, Kerry has kept a national network of supporters intact. He has an e-mail network of 3 million supporters, according to aides. He also has traveled extensively raising millions of dollars for Democratic candidates nationwide.

[teamsterwif1]

Am I the only one who sees the irony in the "change candidate" having the backing of the old guard establishment? Change huh, at least it makes a good sound byte.

[talk2chief]

John Kerry endorses Barack Obama, just before he didn''t endorse Barack Obama. Oh this is priceless. Bickering about race and gender. True intentions are about to be reckoned. Fools claim to have the answers to the problem, the righteous realize they are the problem. And the masses... well... they''re just STUPID! We get what we deserve! God bless America...whatever is left of it.

[joesrc1]

I THINK JOHN KERRY JUST DOESN''T LIKE THE CLINTONS PERIOD.NO WAY IN HELL DOES OBAMA HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OR POLITICAL CONNECTIONS TO LEAD A COUNTRY THIS SIZE AND POWER.

[g02342000]

John Edwards is the only one that will fight poverty and bring health care and education to the poor & middle class of America. The Edwards / Biden ticket would be the best Presidency for all America, anything less will be as bad as keeping Bush in office forever. America deserves honest men of integrity that will fight for all Americans. Edwards is a true patriot that can make America great, he has the substinance, determination, and will to fight greed, corruption and end the outsourcing of our jobs, His economic, education, health and welfare policies are now being copied by all the canidates. Edwards spoke out months and even years before the others. America needs to think about why are the "Washington Greed, Corruption, Large Corporations and Media" trying to make this a two candidate Democratic race? Edwards is the only one able to win the Presidency from the democratic side, and any republican that is nominated will beat Clinton and/or Obama. Only Edwards can fix Bush''s mistakes!

[gunownerdan]

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual ... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."
- Suzanna Gratia-Hupp

www.a-human-right.com

[bobmarisol]

John Kerry actually voted against Obama before he voted for him.

[johnfrost-2009]

Blacks are being fooled by Muslim Obama back into the hands of White Arabs who invented Islam.
Arabs will enslave you again just like in Darfur.
White Arabs have a name for you: ABDEL
They have always called you that for centuries, they will enslave you again.

[gunownerdan]

Aristocracy
a government or state ruled by an elite, or privileged upper class.

Oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

Plutocracy
a government or state in which the wealthy class rules.

[sgtrds]

Really? Telling the truth about HRC & feminists (most of whom are men hating lesbians) is chauvinistic?

Posted by tuckerndfw at 11:56 AM : Jan 11, 2008

You''re hatred of women is to the point of being bizarre, as is your misunderstanding of feminism. Still I have given up trying to explain things to you. It is impossible to enlighten some ignorant people and you''re one. Your ignorance is superseded only by your stubbornness and your refusal to be a man and admit when you are wrong. Have a short life and goodbye.

[sgtrds]

I am surprised, given your history of dealing with the feminist agenda (which she ardently supports and promotes - all men are evil), that you would support her.

She is YOUR ENEMY.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 11:38 AM : Jan 11, 2008

Your characterization of her, feminists and women in general is so chauvinistic as to be laughable. Besides I''m an Edwards supporter who''s starting to lean more towards Obama.

[sgtrds]

I give up. I''m throwing up my hands. The only conclusion I can come to is that you''re being intentionally stupid, unless you''re really as ignorant as you''re being here. Personally I think it''s just because you''re never man enough to admit when you''re wrong.

[sgtrds]

Posted by tuckerndfw at 10:34 AM : Jan 11, 2008

That guy last night was right, it''s like talking to a post. One more time dumbas*s. Presidents via their party members in congress introduce legislation all of the time.. No they do not personally deliver it, but they do send it to the Hill via their party members and this is a courtesy from their party members that has never been refused. So, while you are Constitutionally correct, in reality presidents do push their agenda in Congress via bills that they submit TO congress, have considerable influence IN congress and to say that they don''t is pure BS, a lie or rank stupidity on your part.

[tataactive20]

sacred humanity is the spirit of divinity on earth , that humanity which stands amidst ruins clothing her nakedness in rugged garments ..and shedding abundant tears upon her withered cheeks ! calling upon her sons in a voice that fills the air with lament and mourning ..

[realpatriot1]

Lost in the hoopla of the Kerry endorsement of Obama is the new effort by Karl Rove to pump up Hillary and bring down Obama.

Once again, the GOP political professionals show their hand on who they''re rooting for.

[rowdytexan2]

It is true the president cannot introduce a bill in the House or Senate floor. It has to be introduced by a legislator. In order for a president to enact changes or reform in legislation when he sees the need, he gets one of his supporters in congress to introduce it. It''s done all the time. The president has tremendous influence over the legislature.

That is where Hillary got a lot of her legislative experience. When Bill was in the White House, she was the eyes and ears of his political initiatives. She used their influence to get legislation passed. A lot of GOOD legislation if you remember. She was influential in the original SCHIP program with Ted Kennedy, helped push it thru after the republicans bushwhacked her universal health care program. She didn''t just give up.

Those of you who try to scam the boards by saying HIllary has no experience do so out of ignorance. If you had ever bothered to research you would know better. It is just so much easier to blindly hate someone, than to go out and get to know that person and have your mind changed.

[sgtrds]

Not to interrupt you guys or anything, but who is this Tucker as*swipe on these boards anyway? Sounds like y''''all are trying toe debate a 16-yo punk who failed half his classes.

Posted by MichelleT35 at 01:06 AM : Jan 11, 2008

That''s as good of a description of tucker as I''ve ever read...........

[johngoodnews]

Kerry''s endorsement of Obama caused me to pause and reconsider which candidate would most likely best represent all of the people of the United States.

[gslinger3]

CBS NEW HEADLINES.....KERRY PICKS OBAMA......THIS COULD CHANGE....WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.

[bec67]

A double kiss of death. An endorsement from someone who could not even beat George Bush means ~NOTHING~!
THE LAME ENDORSING THE LAME!

[samthetvcat]

Why the John Kerry endorsement actually matters is because when asked about Clinton''s argument that talking change is different than producing change, Kerry responded that:

%u201CHe (Obama) produced one of the most significant ethics reform bills we passed. He has been a legislator longer than Hillary Clinton.%u201D And then this zinger: %u201CHealth care didn%u2019t pass in 1994 if I recall.%u201D

That''s a one-two punch. It dismisses Clinton''s claim in a way that Obama hasn''t been able to do on his own because it comes from somebody who has MORE experience than Hillary. And it ppl that the Clintons have a lot of baggage and have stepped on a lot of toes in their years in Washington. Like how many of those ''superdelegates'' she''s racked up came on the promise of a cabinet position or other lucrative pork project favor in return? And how many ppl might she end up disappointing?