Robert Byrd gives OK to Obama

West Virginia may have given Hillary Clinton a landslide victory, but it's favorite son and current Senate President Pro-Tem, Robert Byrd, gave his endorsement to Obama today. This comes on the eve of two important primaries, one of which takes place in neighboring Kentucky.

It would have been nice if that had happened a week ago, but it's an important word of affirmation to the person most of us assume will be the Democratic nominee. Byrd's endorsement should help in many quarters, because he's considered the wise old man of the Senate, the keeper of the rules, and someone who has a fairly close relationship to Hillary Clinton. He also has a segregationist past, one that he has disowned.

According to the report in the NY Times, Byrd stated:

“After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for President,” Mr. Byrd said in a statement. “Both Senators Clinton and Obama are extraordinary individuals, whose integrity, honor, love for this country and strong belief in our Constitution I deeply respect.”

“I believe Barack Obama is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and to lead our nation at this challenging time in history,” added Mr. Byrd, who voted against giving President Bush the authorization to go to war in Iraq in 2002 and has been a vociferous opponent of the war. “Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support.”

Besides Byrd, the state party chairs of Washington State and Kansas joined in the march forward!