Gonzalez endorses Obama
02/11/2008 12:02 PM CST
Gary martin
Express-News
WASHINGTON – Illinois Sen. Barack Obama picked up a key endorsement Monday from Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, who said he backs the Illinois senator for the Democratic nomination for president.
"Senator Obama brings all these new fresh faces,’’ Gonzalez told the San Antonio Express-News. "He has a wider audience. He has the greater potential to engage a greater number of people.’’
The endorsement by Gonzalez comes one day after Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., announced a presidential campaign swing through South Texas that will include San Antonio, Corpus Christi and McAllen.
Both campaigns are ramping up their efforts in Texas in advance of the March 4 primary. There are 228 Democratic delegates at stake in Texas.
Hispanics are expected to make up roughly 25 percent of the Democratic primary vote in Texas, prompting Clinton and Obama to establish campaign offices in San Antonio, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley.
Clinton has received the endorsement of former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, who served as housing secretary under President Bill Clinton. Others endorsing Sen. Clinton include Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, and Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes.
Gonzalez, who is a Super Delegate to the Democratic convention -- one of roughly 800 officeholders and party leaders with a vote in the nominating process -- had endorsed John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, until he dropped out of the presidential race.
Since then, Gonzalez said he has received a flurry of telephone calls from Clinton and Obama supporters.
"I truly believe that Senator Clinton or Senator Obama will prevail in November," Gonzalez said in a telephone interview. "I just want to insure that we have our strongest candidate, which is Obama."
Gonzalez said both Democratic candidates share similar positions on health care and regaining the moral high ground in the war on terror. He said Obama, though, has more appeal with independent voters, an important bloc in November.
"He’s got a greater breadth of influence and appeal," Gonzalez said. "It gives us a tremendous advantage over the opposition."
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