John Kerry Endorses Obama

Herman Munster John Kerry has endorsed Barack Obama.

Senator Obama is being endorsed by a fellow senator, John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee who lost to George W. Bush that year with John Edwards as his running mate and gave up his own plans for a 2008 run a year ago.

Mr. Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, planned to announce his support today at a rally with Obama at the College of Charleston, arguing that the Illinois senator can best unite the country, said a Democrat familiar with the decision. Mr. Kerry was timing his announcement before South Carolina's January 26 primary, a contest that has taken on extra importance for Mr. Obama after Senator Clinton beat him in New Hampshire.

Mr. Kerry lost the South Carolina Democratic primary in 2004 to Mr. Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who now is running third in the 2008 campaign behind Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama.

Besides any potential help for Mr. Obama, the endorsement was a slap at Mr. Edwards, Mr. Kerry's former running mate. The two had their differences during the campaign over strategy and spending, and Mr. Edwards has said he would have been more aggressive in challenging the unsubstantiated allegations of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth questioning Mr. Kerry's military record.

Mr. Edwards responded to the endorsement with a statement released today in Chapel Hill, N.C.: "Our country and our party are stronger because of John's service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues."

How big is this endorsement for Obama? According the Washington Post: "Kerry's endorsement is the first major blow in the battle between Clinton and Obama for Democratic establishment support in the post-New Hampshire primary nomination fight."