I received this from the Obama campaign:
Several members of Virginia's House of Delegates will hold a news conference today in the General Assembly Building to endorse U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president in the upcoming February 12 Democratic primary.
The endorsements were to take place at 2 pm. Any word on who endorsed?
UPDATE: One of the endorsers reportedly is House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong.
Seventeen Virginia Delegates Endorse Obama for PresidentSupporters include three delegates who had previously supported John Edwards
RICHMOND, VA - At a news conference this afternoon, 17 members of Virginia's House of Delegates, including Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville, and Del. Dwight Jones, D-Richmond, head of the state Legislative Black Caucus, endorsed Barack Obama's presidential candidacy. Armstrong had been an Edwards supporter. He switched his endorsement after Edwards withdrew yesterday from the race.
Armstrong was joined at the press conference by Dels. Vivian Watts, D-Annandale, and Bob Hull, D-Falls Church, who had also previously endorsed Edwards. The delegates at the news conference represented cities and towns across Virginia.
Coming from a community that has been devastated by bad trade deals, including NAFTA, Armstrong said his decision to throw his support behind Obama was an easy one.
"Senator Obama is the one we can count on to stand up to the special interests that have blocked so much progress in Washington in recent years," Armstrong said. "It's what he's been doing throughout his two decades in public service, and we can count on him to do the same thing as President."
Jones said that Virginians face a unique opportunity February 12, one that comes around perhaps once in a generation.
"Barack Obama can turn the page on the divisive politics of the past and bring people together around a sense of common purpose," Jones said. "It will take a leader like Obama to deliver change we can believe in and make Washington work for everyday Americans again."
Also announcing their support of Obama Thursday were:
Del. Kris Amundson, D-Mount Vernon
Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk
Del. Bob Brink, D-Arlington
Del. David Englin, D-Alexandria
Del. David Marsden, D-Burke
Del. Ken Melvin, D-Portsmouth
Del. Joe Morrisey, D-Highland Springs
Del. Paul Nichols, D-Woodbridge
Del. Ken Plum, D-Reston
Del. Jim Scott, D-Merrifield
Del. Mark Sickles, D-Franconia
Del. Shannon Valentine, D-Lynchburg
Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke
Shorter on experience, he also is unsullied by the quid-pro-quo world of Washington. That puts him in excellent position:* To lead a long-overdue initiative toward universal health care;
* To lead another overdue initiative, on a new nationwide energy source;
* To lead our public schools out of the doldrums;
* To lead the country back to financial solvency and economic independence.
To lead, indeed. Sen. Obama is someone Americans can rally 'round.
His honesty will confound those trying to twist voters' perception of him and the working-people's party; his genuineness will disarm critics jaded over politics-by-rote; his academic brilliance and organizing skills will allow him to handle the complexities of the presidency; and his oratorical skills and compelling personality will inspire a long-lax nation to get off its collective butt and achieve what we're capable of.
New Mexico Democrats can catch an exciting new wave with votes for Barack Obama on Tuesday.
Very nice.
Connecticut Congressmen John Larson and Chris Murphy threw their support to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday ahead of his planned visit to the state next week.Larson, whose 1st District includes Hartford and the surrounding towns, is vice chairman of the House Democratic caucus. Murphy, whose 5th District covers the western part of the state, is a freshman House member.
The two plan to formally announce their endorsements at a Saturday rally. Obama's campaign said he will visit the state Monday, the day before Connecticut and 21 other states hold their Super Tuesday primaries.
But hey Lowell - What is this email "from the Obama campaign" you got? Why didn't I get it? Perhaps they don't know I live in Virginia... Would you be so kind as to post more of the email in a comment or below the flip?
Jan. 31, 2008Virginia Delegates to Announce Endorsement of Obama for President
RICHMOND, VA - Several members of Virginia's House of Delegates will hold a news conference today in the General Assembly Building to endorse U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president in the upcoming February 12 Democratic primary.
Obama for America Endorsement News Conference
When: 2 p.m., Thurs, Jan. 31, 2008
Where: Virginia General Assembly Building
House Briefing Room
910 Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From their endorsement:
We have good choices for President in the Democratic Primary, both are smart and both would have the interest of minorities and urban areas in their administrations. Either one could defeat the representative of Bush's party in November.Hillary Clinton, however, receives our support for her long standing commitment to implement the Dellums Commission agenda which addresses employment and anti-crime measures. Her experience, knowledge and commitment will serve us well. Her success as New York's senator where she demonstrated an ability to work both sides of the aisle bodes well as to how she could bring us together as a nation. The Post News Group and El Mundo agrees with assembly member Sandre Swanson, council members Ignacio De La Fuente and Jean Quan, Mayors Ron Dellums, Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters along with half of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus that Hillary Clinton has the mettle to fight for a green economy, increased educational support, withdrawal from Iraq, jobs for ex-offenders, foreclosure protection and the prosecution of predatory lenders, and increased support for urban areas.
Distance themselves now, save themselves later. Yeah, I know that sounds horrible. But there's a reason Boucher is behind Obama: Hillary isn't going to fly down there.
Overall, Obama now leads Clinton 40 percent to 35 percent, a dramatic increase for Obama, who in September trailed Clinton by 20 percentage points in the state. The margin of error in the poll is 5 percent.
A 25-point turnaround -- wow!
Maybe this is a good sign: maybe New York liberals who supported Edwards will all go to Obama.
Let's make sure we get the folks in your district out there to vote---I'm planning on activating the "gang" here in Woodlawn. Full steam ahead!