Endorsements

I got an email today from John Kerry (as did three million other close personal friends) telling me he was going to endorse Barack Obama, and apparently he's already campaigning for him, with an appearance in South Carolina and some phone-ins to talk shows in Nevada. But probably more important to Obama's chances in the Nevada Caucuses was the Culinary Union's endorsement, and this article I happened across tells why. (South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson and a Congressman closely associated politically with Speaker Pelosi also endorsed Obama. Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Richardson dropped out of the race, not endorsing anyone.)

Chuck Todd, NBC's new political director, said on Keith that Hillary can afford to lose both Nevada and South Carolina, but she could really use at least a split going into Tsunami Tuesday. Obama must win the South Carolina primary. If he does, it proves he can attract black voters in the South, which gives him an advantage in the Southern states on TT. If he doesn't, it's going to cut into his credibility as a winner. I'm guessing that a victory in Nevada gives the victor an apparent advantage in the West and among Latinos.

And man, it's been hard to avoid the blather over the polls and the results in New Hampshire, including conspiracy theories. What little I've heard and perused tells me it's not that big a deal--the polls essentially got everything right except Hillary's surge, and that New Hampshire voters have done this before. It is a little scary how a glistening eye and a guy holding up an IRON MY SHIRTS sign close to election day can decide an election.

But what has impressed me the last few days is the lack of panic among Obama supporters and the follow-through on endorsements that were planned before New Hampshire. Tells me the support for Obama is real, and so is the belief that he can win.

This NY Times story suggests Obama could get more endorsements, this time from black leaders offended by Hillary's comments awkwardly making the point that the talk of Martin Luther King didn't get Civil Rights without the action of President LBJ. That is not playing well with black politicians in the South.