Glenn endorses Hillary
Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:35 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
COLUMBUS, OH -- Former Ohio Sen. John Glenn (D) officially endorsed Hillary Clinton this afternoon, as the campaign signals its focus on what is now a must-win Buckeye State primary.
“I respect her, I trust her, I like her,” he said. “She’s experienced, and she’s developed as a leader. And I think she’s fully capable of being a great president, starting on Day One.”
Gov. Ted Strickland (D) said that for Ohioans who are “looking for validation” there is no person “more highly respected” than Glenn. “If I were running for president in Ohio, there is no endorsement that I would want more,” said Strickland, the state’s popular first-term Democratic governor and former member of Congress.
Each of the officials who spoke at the press conference talked about the pivotal role Ohio has often played in general elections, and now will play in the primary. Glenn called this the “most unusual election year” in his lifetime, and noted that Ohio did not try to “out-early” some of the other primary states. “I wish maybe we had,” he said. “Ohio is truly more of a microcosm of this whole nation of everything -- ethnically, and geographically, and economically.”
“Ohio is perhaps more like America than any other single state,” Strickland said. “And so for the candidate to win here will send a message across the country, and Hillary Clinton will win here.” Speaking after the event, Strickland said his state “is the kind of state that ought to make the decision. And I think Ohio has the constituency that is supporting Senator Clinton.”
Glenn said he expects to appear with Clinton often when she visits Ohio, with events already planned later this week. Asked if he was confident Clinton would maintain her standing here as Obama continues to mount victories leading up to the March 4 primary, Glenn said that was “why we’re having this today, to help push things along.” But if Obama wins Ohio, should she continue? “Oh, I’m not gonna speculate on that,” he said. “Let’s just see her through a big victory right here in Ohio and we’ll see where we go from there.”
Glenn also was asked if Obama were to get the nomination, whether he’d support him or McCain, whom he called a “close personal friend.” “I think we’re better off changing the party in charge in Washington, particularly from the presidency on down,” Glenn answered.
