Bonior, former Edwards campaign manager, endorses Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/POLITICS01/805080470/1361

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Former Macomb County Congressman David Bonior, who managed John Edwards' unsuccessful presidential campaign, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday.

Bonior compared the 2008 election to pivotal moments in political history such as Franklin Roosevelt's election in 1932 and John F. Kennedy's in 1960.

"The American people want a new direction. They want fundamental change, big change, I think," Bonior said during a media conference call with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a co-chair of Obama's campaign.

He praised Obama for creating a "movement" of supporters who had disengaged from politics in the past or were engaging for the first time.

The endorsement provides Obama what could be valuable support from a close ally of organized labor. In the long 2008 primary season, Obama has struggled to attract support from union voters, and union officials in Michigan such as state AFL-CIO chief Mark Gaffney have questioned whether Obama is sympathetic enough to the concerns of manufacturing workers.

Bonior is close to officials in the United Auto Workers and other unions, and his enthusiastic support could help Obama with the blue-collar workers whom Sen. Hillary Clinton has won over. Clinton and her campaign have cited her strength with blue-collar workers, and particular working families, as a reason for her to remain in the race.

FULL story at link.

[bvar22]

1. Strong endorsement from the Edwrds camp.

As a former Edwards supporter, this endorsement resonates with me.