Obama gets key endorsement; Clinton talks economy


(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama kicked off a bus tour Friday in Pennsylvania, gaining a key endorsement in that state ahead of its April 22 primary.

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania announced his support of Obama at an event Friday in Pittsburgh, giving a boost to the Democratic candidate's White House bid in the crucial state.

"He started this campaign as an underdog, but he knows what it's like to be a fighter," Casey said.

"I've been impressed by so much watching this campaign ... impressed by his compassion, his strength, his ideas, and I think especially ... under fire."

Casey told the crowd that he called Sen. Hillary Clinton on Thursday night to inform her of the decision. "She was gracious ... and we know that she's a great senator, she's a great leader," Casey added.

Obama accepted the endorsement, saying, "Bob is such gracious person. I did not press him on this endorsement. There are others I press."

He said Casey's backing "meant more to me as any endorsement I've received on the trail because I knew it was coming from the heart."

Casey is a first-term senator and son of a popular former Gov. Bob Casey Sr. A Catholic, the lawmaker could help Obama make inroads in Pennsylvania among Catholic voters, a bloc that has favored Clinton in most other contests.

Obama gets key endorsement; Clinton talks economy - CNN.com

This is a fairly significant endorsement among Catholic voters and another loss for Hillary.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

And this may fly in the face of Obama's campaign statement on superdelegates...

They claim that superdelegates should vote the same way their constituency votes...

And Pennsylvania, with almost all certainty, will vote for Hillary...

That means that Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator will NOT vote the same way the people he represents will...

Same with Bill Richardson & Ted Kennedy, both of whom endorsed Obama and whose states went for Hillary....

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I predict that "after" this cycle,they will dramatically change the Superdelegate structure. It was a stupid idea from the start and as some originally predicted,this will become a painful lesson.I have a close friend that was part of that process,she opposed the idea of Superdelagates as being undemocratic. They dismissed her concern and she left the party.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

I hope she's leaving messages on their answering machines...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd