OH Gov. Strickland endorses Obama
Posted: Thursday, June 05, 2008 1:53 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli and NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, one of the most ardent Hillary Clinton backers, has now thrown his support to Barack Obama.
Strickland has been mentioned as a potential vice president for Obama, as he is the governor of what has been a critical battleground state.
Strickland, notably, stood behind Clinton (on cam) as she famously shouted, "Shame on you, Barack Obama!" as she held a flier his campaign was circulating on her position on NAFTA just before the March 4th Ohio and Texas contests.
*** UPDATE *** More scrubbing with the past couple of days' flow of endorsements to Obama. Most of these are out there already and came out yesterday, but 19 to add for Obama: Sen. Barbara Boxer CA (who we never had on our list -- an aide had told First Read she “plans to” vote for Clinton at convention), Susan Davis CA, Sen. Ken Salazar CO, Sen. Mary Landrieu LA, Heather Mizeur MD, Walter Mondale MN, Rick Stafford MN, John Temporiti MO, Rep. Tom Udall, NM, David Strauss ND, Chris Redfern OH, Phil Bredesen TN, Inez Crutchfield TN, Gray Sasser TN, C. Richard Cranwell VA, Paul Cote WA, Sharon Mast WA, Sen. Herb Kohl WI, Paula Zellner WI.
And one for Clinton: Cheryl Chapman SD, since Clinton won the state.
The NBC NEWS Delegate Counts:
PLEDGED: Obama 1,744 to 1,641
SUPERS: Obama 425.5 to 292
EDWARDS PL.: Obama 21 to 0
OVERALL: Obama 2,190.5 to 1,933
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Subject: STATEMENT: Governor Strickland Endorses Barack Obama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2008
Governor Ted Strickland issued the following statement this afternoon:
"Today, I announce my wholehearted and enthusiastic support for Barack Obama for President of the United States.
Earlier today I talked with Sen. Hillary Clinton. I thanked her for her friendship and the strong effort she put forth in this historic campaign. I pledged to work with her to unify the party and to make sure that Barack Obama wins the presidency.
Ohioans have suffered as a result of the failed policies of the Bush Administration, including job loss as a result of rising fuel prices. Ohioans desperately want real, meaningful change. And I believe Barack Obama will bring that change."
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