Finally - It must have taken some real guts on Kerry's part to make this endorsement.  When the race is perceived as being between two Senators, most of their peers have been reluctant to endorse (Obama thus far only has Durbin, Tim Johnson, and Conrad, Clinton has Schumer, Inouye, and Mikulski, Edwards has none).  40 of 49 Democratic Senators are currently not endorsing anyone, and I think the reason is obvious.  In the end they'll all support the nominee (I hope...), and given the heat of the race now, endorsing Obama or Clinton is a guarantee that you'll be on at least slightly sour terms with either the next President or a fellow Senator for years to come.

Kerry has lots of fundraiser lists, GOTV materials, and his own network from 2004 to share with Obama.  This kind of information could provide Obama with a small edge as he heads into some key states.

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. I continue to believe that this election is about the future, not the past, and that the country needs a President who will fight aggressively to end the status quo and change the Washington system and to give voice to all of those whose voices are ignored in the corridors of power.

Even though Obama defied expectations and came within 2 points of HRC in NH, her win ensures that this will be a drawn out battle, lasting through super tuesday. With Edwards still in the race, it could be a divided convention if he picks up some delegates.  So, rather than a blowout we have a horse-race.

This endorsement is important, because it shows that Obama has as much institutional support as Hillary, and will have the support he needs to fight through to November.

Heck, I think the Ronald Reagan was probably more influential in 2006, considering who Jim Webb chose to highlight in his ads.

Same holds for Kerry.  You don't see Dubya endorsing anyone yet, and that has to make McCain rue the "you are the man" hug with Dubya.

I hope Gore will endorse Edwards as the guy who not only thinks he can do economic justice and get on with tough laws on global warming, but has the track record to actually do it.  I don't see Obama or Hillary getting tough with polluters or corporate greed except in a nominal, I tried, but Congress (which is in special interest pockets)wouldn't let me do it my way.

I'm getting really super discouraged that our annointed super delegates and party leaders are afraid to back a leader for fear of backing a loser if the polls are right.

I hope Jim Webb considers this if he is asked to join anyone's ticket as VP.

Martin Luther King said, "The time is always right to do what is right." So I'm choosing this time to share an important decision I've made, one I believe is right for this country.

The JohnKerry.com community has been very important to me and very important to the Democratic resurgence over the last couple of years, so I wanted to let all of you know my decision before I confirm it with anyone else. I want to share with you my conviction that in a field of fine Democratic candidates, the next President of the United States can be, should be, and will be Barack Obama. Each of our candidates would make a fine President, and we are blessed with a strong field. But for this moment, at this time in our nation's history, Barack Obama is the right choice.

Please join me in supporting Barack Obama's candidacy.

I'm proud to have helped introduce Barack to our nation when I asked him to speak to our national convention, and there Barack's words and vision burst out. On that day he reminded Americans that our "true genius is faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles." And with his leadership we can build simple dreams, and we can turn millions of small miracles into real change for our country.

At this particular moment, with our country faced with great challenges in our economy, in our environment, and in our foreign policy, and with our politics torn by division, Barack Obama can bring transformation to our country. With Barack, we can build a new majority of Americans from all regions who can turn the page on the politics of Karl Rove and begin a new politics, one worthy of our nation's history and promise. We can bring millions of disaffected people - young and old - to the great task of governing and making a difference, child to child, community to community.

Please click here to give what you can to Barack Obama's campaign for President and help build this future for our country.

The moment is now, and the candidate for this moment is Barack Obama. Like him, I also lived abroad as a young man, and I share with him a healthy respect for the advantage of knowing other cultures and countries, not from a book or a briefing, but by personal experience, by gut, by instinct. He knows the issues from the deep study of a legislator, and he knows them from a life lived outside of Washington. His is the wisdom of real-world experience combined with the intellect of a man who has thought deeply about the challenges we face.

History has given us this moment. But we need to decide what to do with it. I believe, with this moment, we should make Barack Obama President of the United States.

Please join me in supporting his campaign.

Thank you,
John Kerry

Here is something that really got me thinking.

"The moment is now, and the candidate for this moment is Barack Obama. Like him, I also lived abroad as a young man, and I share with him a healthy respect for the advantage of knowing other cultures and countries, not from a book or a briefing, but by personal experience, by gut, by instinct."

Lived abroad as a young man?

As most people know, a persons youth shapes thinking more then most anything one encounters in life. So just what kind of thinking and direction will the country get from one who lived their youth out of this country.

Is this one of the reasons our founders said one had to be  born in American? Did they understand something we fail to envision?

Sure he is an American citizen. And I am not saying he is Muslim or anything else. I am just questioning living so long out of this country in his youth.

I only question, is it a blessing for his knowledge of another culture or will the youth lessons change America into something our descendants will hate us for?

I am just raising a question and make no judgement of any kind. Is what a raise an issue that the other party will use against the candidate?

What is so bad about a Hopemonger?

To actually answer the question: someone once said that a nation isn't made out of boundaries or lines drawn on a map, and that it's not defined by a common language or common genetic traits or a common language or flag.  A nation's identity is created by the people who self-identify as belong to and being a part of that nation.  So I don't really care where Barack Obama spent his childhood years, and I don't think it could warp his perspective or make him any less of an American anyone else.  As long as he loves this country--as all our fine candidates do--then that should be good enough for any of us, shouldn't it?  It's certainly good enough for me.

It was kind of a strange thing for Kerry to point out, though, I thought.  Like, hey, I studied abroad for a semester when I was an undergrad, too!...

I am just raising a question and make no judgement of any kind.

Sure he is an American citizen. And I am not saying he is Muslim or anything else.

If Hillary was ahead - ie also won Iowa - I'll bet he would be endorsing her right now.  Two races down, and these "elitists" are already trying to decide the election.  

I wish all the pollsters, pundits, and politicians would shut their pie holes during this process.  It's one thing if your are supporting a candidate all the way - but quite another when you wait to see which way the political winds are blowing.

I think he has a lot less to hide than most public servants.  What do they have on Barack?  That he lived in a foreign country?  True.

That he's a Christian convert from Islam?  False.  That he is unpatriotic?  False.

So, what do they have on Barack Obama?

At the end of the day, it just seems to me that Barack Obama is the guy who can energize new voters, build coalitions and be in the position to get real change.

Today, with our Presidential primary in Connecticut less than a month away, I am announcing my support of Barack Obama for President because I am convinced that his forward-looking, progressive vision provides the best chance to enact meaningful reforms in the way Washington works.

Sen. Obama has the tone and temperament to bring out the best in our people and our nation, and to bring new coalitions together in support of the progressive policies we all want to see enacted. His campaign has already reflected this, not only by bringing hundreds of thousands of new voters of all ages to the polls, but by inspiring so many who are new to politics to become activists as well.

No offense to Ms. Rice, but I hardly think it compares with Kerry or Lamont :)

Boy, this is going to cause some big-time confusion for the country-club Republican set. Their favorite hardcore sadomasochistic fantasy novel author endorses their most hated enemy.

ROFLMAO!

As for oldsoldier's remark that it's proper that Dubya hasn't endorsed anyone yet, do you really think that if Bush knew who was running he wouldn't endorse one of the Republican field? C'mon.