Maria Shriver Backs Obama

Wife of the California Governor and actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, endorsed Barack Obama's candidature for president. A member of one of American politics' foremost dynasties, the Kennedys, Shriver's endorsement came just days after her husband backed Republican John McCain.

Explaining her decision to support Obama, she "The more I thought about it, I thought, you know, if Barack Obama was a state, he'd be California." She continued, "I mean, think about it: diverse, open, smart, independent, bucks tradition, innovative, inspiring, dreamer, leader!" Shriver went on reflect on how Obama "is about the power of us, and what we can do when we come together. Because as everybody up here has said, there is much more that unites us than divides us." Obama, she pointed out, empowered people across gender, race and age group.







California, which elects a good number of delegates from the Democrat as well as the Republican side, is an important state in the US presidential race. Earlier, Shriver's husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Republican John McCain's candidature.

Shriver's endorsement has come just in time for the Super Tuesday contest to be held on February 5, 2008. Democrats will vote in 22 states and Republicans in 21 states on this day. About half the delegates selected on this day will be part of the national party conventions to be held in August and September when the party nominees.