Report: Lewis backing Obama?
(CNN) - Is he or isn’t he? The New York Times reported Thursday night that Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights movement veteran and Democratic congressional leader who endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid last year, was switching his superdelegate vote to Barack Obama.
Within hours, according to the Washington Post, his spokeswoman Brenda Jones said the story - and an earlier Associated Press report that the Georgia congressman was considering the move - had been "observations, not statements of preference."
The New York Times had also reported that Lewis had not yet endorsed Obama, and would make a decision on that within a few days.
As of early Friday, there had been no comment from the congressman himself on either report.
“In recent days, there is a sense of movement and a sense of spirit,” Lewis said in the Times story, which was published on the paper’s Web site Thursday night. “Something is happening in America, and people are prepared and ready to make that great leap.”
The Times also quoted Lewis as saying that he hoped to prevent a potentially bloody battle over the nomination, and that if the two sides were seeking “a mediator, a negotiator or a peacemaker, I’d be happy to step in…I don’t want to see Mrs. Clinton damaged or Mr. Obama damaged.”
That's good news. Get ready for a chain reaction. More are soon to follow in buches.
Thank you Rep. Lewis. Not only for supporting Obama, but for wanting to be a mediator and prevent damage to either candidate.
Thank you for your move. I think your foresight is greatly embraced!
Welcome back, hero!
Why would a black politician not support the black candidate? Who cares what they believed before! Why is this news?
This is it, folks! The beginning of the superdelegate shift to Obama! They see the momentum of the Obama Freight Train, and want to do right by their electorate. After Wisconsin and Hawaii are won, he'll be seeing a whole lotta superdelegates shifting to him. And, just like always, when the voters in Texas and Ohio get to know him before March 4, he'll poll favorably there too in the nick of time.
Obama is the bright future. Hillary Clinton is the past we want left behind!
Every Super Delegate should not endorse anyone until they are needed to do so at the convention.
This race is becoming an absolute joke...and, to be honest, is turning me away from the democratic party. John Lewis is obviously catching so much heat from his constituents...around the fact that he is not supporting a black candidate. But....things like this can never be said by the media because then they would be racial. It really is the perfect storm this year for Barack. He's getting the racist vote from african americans...and he's getting the kid gloves, don't want to be called a racist treatment from the media.
Do I hear the sound of the coffin being nailed shut??
Why Yes, I think I do!
Thank you John Lewis! You most certainly are doing the right thing in backing Senator Barack Obama for President of The United States. Senator Obama, is the only candidate working hard to unite this country, and stop the deep divisions that exist in our society today.
I definitely understand Obama's message! As clear evidence to the way and manner in which he has ran his campaign, he is no doubt a much better unifier and leader than Hillary Clinton, by far. And which candidate was the first to put out an attack ad on the other between the two in Ohio and Texas? Hillary of course! That's her style!
Again, my vote in November, will be to move this country forward and NOT backward. I'll be voting for big change! Obama 08!!!
Obama has taken a platform. He has taken the platform of hope, of change, and of vision.
If you have not see and herd, then I beseech you all to please just listen. Let the truth of each candidate's message ring true as the Liberty Bell rang true for our nation's Founding Fathers.
Then as now, a critical moment existed, a moment of courage and a moment of hope, a moment of heroes, a moment of the people, and a moment for action. The moment is now to vote Barack Obama.
It good that he supports Obama since his state went for Obama, so any day now we should expect Kennedy and Kerry to support Clinton right?
Great! Another person switch after they compare candidates!
It's not a racial issue. It's simply because Obama has demonstrated himself is a much better choice for American people!
The Clintons only have themselves to blame!
Can Keith Olbermann ever stop talking about Obama? This man's program is all about Obama. I used to watch his show instead of Foxnews but it looks like he is now caught up in the same biased reporting against Hillary Clinton.
This is disgusting.....I watched his show tonight and for almost 10 minutes, Keith went on and on and on about Obama. He even played Obama's advert on his show and still could not explain the relevance of the advert to his program.
Bravo Obama i dont need your book sign because you already sign in my heart.
Good vore for his conscience.
WHY CANT SHE EVEN RUN A HALF DECENT CAMPAIGN? WHY DID SHE GO BROKE? WHY DID SHE NOT PAY FOR SERVICES IN IOWA AFTER THE ELECTION? WHY WONT SHE RELEASE HER TAX RECEIPTS LIKE OTHERS? WHATS SHE GOT TO HIDE? WHAT HAPPENED TO HER OVER 100 MILLION DOLLARS RAISED, DID SHE DIP INTO IT FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES/LUXURIES? SHE CANT BE TRUSTED, THATS WHY A LOT OF HER SUPER DELEGATES ARE RE-THINKING THEIR SUPPORT FOR HER BECAUSE IF SHE CANT EVEN RUN A WELL FUNDED ORGANIZED CAMPAIGN, WHY TRUST HER WITH THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY?
Well done John Lewis! It is time to go with the people's choice.
I suggest Clinton supporters e-mail these representatives. Their addresses can be found on the internet. This election isn't about race!
Good. I used to back clinton before she started campaigning. Now I want Obama...He can pull more votes and not hand McCain the Whitehouse on a platter.
IT BEATS ME HOLOW WHEN HILLARY HYPES ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE; AS WHAT FIRST LADY OR THE VOTE FOR THE IRAQ WAR THAT SHE COULD NOT ANALYZE? SHE CANT EVEN RUN A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN ( EVEN WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT BEHIND HER) YET SHE TALKS ABOUT EXPERIENCE. AND HAS TRIED TO CREEP IN DIVISIVE ISSUES SUCH AS RACE AND GENDER. AMERICA WE NEED SOMEONE WHOSE PEDIGREE AND RECORDS ALIGN WITH OUR THOUGHTS