Obama to Win Ted Kennedy's Endorsement

Posted on 1/28/2008 3:41:00 PM

Barack Obama's candidature is soon to receive another boost, in the form of an endorsement from the Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy. A party official, speaking strictly on condition of anonymity, revealed that the news would be made public during a campaign rally for Obama. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the former president John Kennedy, has also supported Obama's campaign, who, she said, would inspire American the same way her father did. Writing in The New York Times she said, I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

Meanwhile, Obama has refused to respond to questions seeking clarification on the endorsement, during a television interview aired on ABC's This Week. "I'll let Ted Kennedy speak for himself. And nobody does it better," the senator from Illinois said, adding, "But obviously, any of the Democratic candidates would love to have Ted Kennedy's support. And we have certainly actively sought it. And you know, I will let him make his announcement and his decision when he decides it's appropriate."

An endorsement from Kennedy can prove to be very beneficial for any Democratic presidential hopeful, and is much coveted. The senior senator from Massachusetts, who is a member of the famous Kennedy clan, is, after all, hailed as a leading liberal politician who is well known and respected across the political spectrum.

Kennedy has always enjoyed good relationships with the Democratic presidential hopefuls. He is chairman of the committees on Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on which both leading presidential candidates, Obama and Hillary Clinton, are serving. He has also collaborated with John Edwards regarding the 2001 legislation on patients' rights. In October, while responding to a question, Kennedy said, "It's going to be difficult choosing. I've got a lot of friends who want to be president."