New York Congress Members Endorse Obama; Rangel To Attend Announcement
Representatives Greg Meeks, Yvette Clarke and Ed Towns put out a joint statement just now endorsing Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
They are planning a 1 p.m. press conference at City Hall on Friday. There's another press conference happening in D.C. at 1 p.m. today.
All of them they previously endorsed home-state Senator Hillary Clinton, although Obama won their districts on the February 5 primary.
According to an aide for Meeks, Charlie Rangel, Bill Thompson, Helen Marshall, Malcolm Smith and Adolfo Carrion, Jr. will also be there.
Here’s the statement:
Endorse Senator Barack Obama as the Presumptive Presidential Nominee for the Democratic Party
New York Congressional Delegation Members Support Presidential Candidate Barack Obama
Washington, DC—Thursday, Wednesday, June 4, 2008—US Reps. Chairman Ed Towns, Gregory W. Meeks and Yvette D. Clarke issued a joint statement tonight supporting Barack Obama as the Democratic Presidential nominee, "After a long and vigorous primary process that has shattered barriers and involved millions of enthusiastic voters, it is clear that Senator Barack Obama has crossed the delegate threshold and is the presumptive Presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. We congratulate him on this historic achievement and endorse his candidacy.
"It is critical that all delegates and all Democrats come together now to unite our party and put our efforts into mobilizing a strong collective push for the White House. We stand ready to rally behind Senator Obama as we begin the next phase in the process of electing the next president of the United States of America.
"Our party has much to be proud of as we reflect on the historical nature of our primary process, the exceptional caliber of our candidates and the unprecedented level of voter participation.
"We are pleased that Senator Clinton's history-making campaign contributed so greatly to the invigoration of millions in our party and strengthened our commitment to policies that will improve the lives of Americans. We are certain that she will continue to play an essential role as we work to address the needs of all of our constituencies and ultimately succeed in November.
"By their participation and engagement in this 50-state process, Americans have demonstrated that they are eager for change and want to see our country take a new direction. Senator Obama has demonstrated that he has the courage and capacity to lead and will do so with wisdom, initiative, imagination, and steadfastness. We stand firmly in his corner and are ready to help him continue to make history on behalf of the American people in November and when a victorious Barack Obama takes office next January." [End]
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 49.3
- 43.3
- Obama +6.0
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 56.0
- 35.8
- +20.2
- McCain
- 51.8
- 40.2
- +11.6
I applaude this delegation for their forthcoming finally for Senator Obama. I respect and value what Senator Clinton set out to do and she undoubtedly accomplished quite a bit in her own right. We have a nominee now that will need all the support he can get and help with withstanding the attacks that have be coming at him, and unquestionably will intensify. This is a great candidate that I feel will be good for American and the world, and he I feel can repair our damaged image around the world like no other President-elect could ever do. I wish him God's speed and and the congress all the success in the fall.
Go Obama & The Congress...BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!!!!!!
It is just sad that Clinton could not have been the leader of her supporters' delegation (New York Congressional delegation, or otherwise) endorsing Obama. This appears to be Clinton's fatal flaw . . . she knows how to fight, but she does not know how to lead. Instead, she has been pressured into admitting defeat and "support" (note the pointed avoidance of the word "endorse" in her email to supporters) for Obama, which is yet another reason (one of dozens) she will not be the Vice Presidential nominee on the ticket this fall.