Obama getting Backing of Two in New Jersey

[illinoisprogressive]

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama received the backing Monday of two prominent New Jersey mayors, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Obama said, as he arrived in New Jersey for a round of political appearances, that his campaign will be judged on how hard he is working to deliver on issues such as health care, affordable housing and mass transit.

"The campaign will be won or lost based on the strength of my message," Obama said, speaking at Teterboro Airport with Booker and the mayor of Jersey City, Jerramiah Healy, who also endorsed the Illinois senator.

The Newark mayor said over the weekend that he also would be part of Obama's campaign leadership in New Jersey. Booker has been linked with Obama as part of a new generation of black leaders.

"It's time that we have a national leader that's going to raise us around our highest common ideals and remind us that we have more in common as a people than we do that divides us," Booker said Saturday.

Several other high-ranking Democrats in New Jersey have already announced their support for presidential candidates. Senate President Richard J. Codey is supporting former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, while Gov. Jon S. Corzine has endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/14/133339.shtml?s=po