U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va., announced his support for Barack Obama as Democratic Party nominee for president late Thursday afternoon.
U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va., announced his support for Barack Obama as Democratic Party nominee for president late Thursday afternoon.
All four of West Virginia's Democratic members of Congress have endorsed the Illinois senator. Mollohan joins Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Nick J. Rahall.
"While Sen. Hillary Clinton has proved herself an untiring advocate of issues important to West Virginians, Sen. Obama has the particular combination of intelligence, moral strength, and leadership abilities that our state and our country need today," Mollohan said Thursday in a prepared statement.
Clinton soundly defeated Obama in West Virginia's presidential primary on May 13. The New York senator and former first lady received 67 percent of the vote to Obama's 26 percent.
But the state's members of Congress are superdelegates, and are not bound by how state residents voted. Rockefeller and Rahall endorsed Obama in March, while Byrd waited until a week after the primary.
Three West Virginia superdelegates, all Democratic Party officials, have endorsed Clinton. Three others, including Gov. Joe Manchin, have not endorsed anyone.
"Throughout American history - from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt - our times of greatest challenge have produced our greatest leaders," Mollohan said Thursday. "Our challenges today are different, but they too call for greatness in leadership."
Mollohan specifically said the country needs a president who:
"Will lead us out of a war we should never have begun."U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va., announced his support for Barack Obama as Democratic Party nominee for president late Thursday afternoon.
All four of West Virginia's Democratic members of Congress have endorsed the Illinois senator. Mollohan joins Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Nick J. Rahall.
"While Sen. Hillary Clinton has proved herself an untiring advocate of issues important to West Virginians, Sen. Obama has the particular combination of intelligence, moral strength, and leadership abilities that our state and our country need today," Mollohan said Thursday in a prepared statement.
Clinton soundly defeated Obama in West Virginia's presidential primary on May 13. The New York senator and former first lady received 67 percent of the vote to Obama's 26 percent.
But the state's members of Congress are superdelegates, and are not bound by how state residents voted. Rockefeller and Rahall endorsed Obama in March, while Byrd waited until a week after the primary.
Three West Virginia superdelegates, all Democratic Party officials, have endorsed Clinton. Three others, including Gov. Joe Manchin, have not endorsed anyone.
"Throughout American history - from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt - our times of greatest challenge have produced our greatest leaders," Mollohan said Thursday. "Our challenges today are different, but they too call for greatness in leadership."
Mollohan specifically said the country needs a president who:
"Will lead us out of a war we should never have begun."
"Knows that protecting us from terrorists doesn't require abandoning the values that so many Americans have fought and died to defend."
"Will support our veterans and deliver the resources they deserve from a grateful nation."
"Understands what it means to choose between filling your gas tank and buying groceries for your family, what it means to schedule a doctor's appointment after your health insurance has been canceled and what it means to be told your job was just outsourced to somebody on the other side of the globe."
Mollohan also stated Obama reminds people "that while we may be liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, northerner or southerner, we are Americans first and last and we stand strongest when we stand together."
Mollohan is now serving his 13th term in Congress from West Virginia's northern Congressional district. He was first elected in 1982, and his father held the seat before him.
On Wednesday, Obama said he expects to have support from enough delegates and superdelegates to be the Democratic Party nominee after the last two state primaries are held in Montana and South Dakota next week.
Obama has already begun focusing his campaign on Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the apparent Republican Party nominee.
To contact staff writer Paul J. Nyden, use e-mail or call 348-5164.
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A grown up knows others words that can be used besides cuss words. You mentality sounds like that of the priest who spoke in Obama's church. I am NOT whining...you will see who is whining and that will be you when you end up with a Republican again because you didn't have the good sense to vote against Obama. Time will tell and I will be saying that I told you so. No, Hillary did not get all the delegates from WV which is not right either. There is a difference between crying and stating the facts, you moron. Just wait and SEE who is crying in the end.