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Missouri's Clay, Carnahan Endorse Obama in 2008 NewsMax.com Wires WASHINGTON -- Two congressional Democrats from St. Louis plan to endorse Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Reps. William Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan are the first U.S. lawmakers from Missouri to back one of the Democratic presidential contenders. The two will appear with Obama on Friday, when he comes to St. Louis to raise money at two events. "The Carnahan and Clay families have devoted themselves as public servants to the state of Missouri for generations, and Obama is grateful," said Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The endorsements are a sign of the increased political jockeying for Missouri support by presidential candidates from both parties in advance of the state's presidential primary on Feb. 5. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., attended a St. Louis fundraiser last week and has already picked up support from St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. "Barack Obama shares my values and he understands our community," Clay said. "His bold, positive ideas can have a real impact on closing disparities in health care, home ownership, academic achievement and equal opportunity." Story Continues Below
Clay called Obama a leader who can "connect with all kinds of people" and "heal some of the divisions in this country and get us moving in the right direction again." "Like me, Barack Obama has been against this tragic and unnecessary war from the beginning," Clay said of the Iraq conflict. "That stands in stark contrast to some of his opponents." Carnahan got to know Obama while working with Illinois lawmakers on plans to fund a new Mississippi River crossing. Carnahan's political director, Vince Currao, said the congressman is "very impressed" with Obama and hopes to meet privately with the senator Friday before making his endorsement official. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has not endorsed a candidate and has no immediate plans to do so, although she has already been approached by several White House hopefuls, spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh said. "She thinks the world of Sen. Obama and thinks he would make a terrific president," Marsh said. Marsh said McCaskill's schedule does not allow her to attend the Obama fundraising events. Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, of Kansas City, Mo., does not plan to endorse anyone anytime soon, his spokesman Danny Rotert said. Cleaver backed John Edwards in 2004 but considers himself a good friend of former President Clinton and Sen. Clinton.
© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Editor's note: Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
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