Obama picks up Baron Hill support (Blue Dog Democrat)

Obama picks up Baron Hill support
By Mary Beth SchneiderPosted:
April 30, 2008
U.S. Rep. Baron Hill is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president.Hill's endorsement is important beyond his influence as a member of Congress. The 9th District Democrat is one of the superdelegates both candidates are courting. Earlier, U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, who recently won a special election to fill the seat left by his late grandmother, former U.S. Rep. Julia Carson, also endorsed Obama. But the other Democratic members of the U.S. House -- Reps. Peter Visclosky, Joe Donnelly and Brad Ellsworth -- have not.In a statement released by his office, Hill -- who will speak about his endorsement at an Obama rally tonight at Indiana University's Assembly Hall in Bloomington, said that he considers both Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be "formidable candidates" but that Obama is the best able to move the nation past partisan gridlock.Hill cited Obama's denunciation of the comments made by Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, saying he was "pleased that Senator Obama clearly and unequivocally denounced Reverend Wright’s remarks. Hoosiers don’t feel that way about our country, I don’t feel that way about our country and Senator Obama made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t feel that way either."And, he said, the controversy "showed me another aspect of Senator Obama’s leadership – a strength of character and commitment to our nation that transcends the personal. One of the tests of a true leader is his ability and willingness to come to a new conclusion based on new events. Senator Obama did just that yesterday."Hill said that choosing between Obama and Clinton was difficult, but that he made the decision "after much discussion with the people of southern Indiana as well a mentors of mine such a Lee Hamilton."
Congressman Baron Hill, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, represents Indiana's 9th district and is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Hill is Senator Obama’s 246th Superdelegate endorsement. Senator Obama is now 286 delegates away from winning the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
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