On Tuesday, in addition to a story on Sen. Kerry's visit to Ze-gen that Kerstin posted about here, a reporter from South Coast Today asked the Senator which 2008 candidate he will endorse. It's a huge endorsement, of course, for the candidate who is lucky enough to get it. When it happens. When the guy nearly half the country voted for last time says "I like this one", people tend to look a little more closely. And there's that huge email list to consider, and let's not forget the Senator's very active online supporters, some who are just waiting to hear who JK will get behind for the nomination. Yup. This will be a big endorsement for the lucky guy or gal, and it looks like we may not have to wait much longer. Yesterday, at the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee meeting, the Senator is reported to have said his endorsement will come "very soon". But as the Senator made clear in this video, he's not quite ready. I get that.
I expect the candidates are scrambling for endorsements right about now, looking to attach their names to, and get the support of labor unions, big name entertainers and especially high profile politicians. Gary Hart endorsed Obama yesterday. Not in so many words, strangely, but in his post on Huffington, he spoke of the need for change, and it was strongly implied.
Only a new generation of leaders can solve these new challenges, because only a new generation of leaders is unbound by old policies, old commitments and arrangements, old deals and old friendships. This is a time when America must leave old politics behind. This election is about transition not power. We will either move forward or we will go back.
Still, no endorsement from Kerry, Gore or Kennedy yet. And that's OK. I'm starting to like Obama myself. I'd like to hear more from both him and Sen. Clinton about their plans for energy independence, straightening out our damaged reputation in the world, and getting out of Iraq. Either way, if we work hard at it, we'll have a Dem in the White House next year at this time, and that's a good thing. Not only will we have an administration that actually works for the American people, but we'll have one that won't veto everything that comes out of Congress, and our government can get back to the business of serving the vast majority of Americans, not just the top 1%.
