Joe Erwin endorses Obama

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Joe Erwin, former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic party, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president on Wednesday.

Erwin said on a conference call with reporters that Obama "can build relationships in Washington and around the country."

"Barack Obama is the person who most gets the eyes and ears and increasingly the hearts of independent voters," he said.

Erwin, from Greenville, was party chairman from 2003 until April of this year.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby