WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Clinton cabinet member Federico Peña announced Friday he will endorse Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid and serve as his National Campaign Co-Chair.
Despite working in the Clinton administration, Peña decided to back Obama over his former boss’ wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton.
“I have spent years working with presidential administrations and world leaders, and what I see in Barack Obama is the kind of judgment this country needs to usher in a new era of global leadership," Peña said in a statement. "The challenges we are facing in Colorado, in the Hispanic community and across the country are formidable and it is time for bold and thoughtful leadership in the White House.”
Peña was the mayor of Denver before President Clinton tapped him to be his Secretary of Transportation, and later, his Secretary of Energy. He was Denver's first Hispanic Mayor.
“I look forward to working with Federico to bring about the transformation this country desperately needs," Obama said in a statement. "His vision for change as mayor of Denver and his strong record on energy and transportation issues brings invaluable experience to our team."
- CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich