In a dramatic moment at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, California First Lady Maria Shriver just strode out onto a stage that had already seen its share of celebrities — Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder among them — and announced that she was joining the Kennedy half of the family backing Barack Obama, reports our colleague Mark Z. Barabak, who is there.
More details will be posted shortly and in tomorrow’s print edition, but Shriver reportedly was waiting backstage wavering over whether she should make her support public, and then finally strode out on stage. Her husband, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, earlier this week announced his endorsement for Sen. John McCain.
The Kennedy family has split over the two top Democratic contenders, with Ted Kennedy joined by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg — daughter of his brother John F. Kennedy — and his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, all going with Obama. Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, also went with the Illinois senator.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62_ajoKkuHA[/youtube]
Kate Michleman, Former President, NARAL Pro-Choice America, has also announced her endorsement of Barack Obama today on Huffington Post.
The question I have been asking myself and others during my entire life in public policy and throughout this 2008 presidential Campaign — the question which tens of millions of women and men have also been asking — is how do we best bring America together in shared purpose, prosperity and, especially, equality.
Those of us who until last week worked for Senator John Edwards to become president were always fighting for something bigger than any of us and bigger than all of us. We were also part of a movement with the objective, John’s objective, of lifting up all Americans.
John Edwards is not going to be president, and so what we who were helping him must do is now elect the individual who has deep in his core John’s principles and vision for this country. And so today, with every passion and enthusiasm I have, I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama to be president of the United States. Read Kate’s complete post HERE.
Caroline, Uncle Teddy, Patrick, and now First Lady Maria.
LA Times, La Opinion, Xavier Becerra, Maria Elena Duazo, Linda Sanchez.
Que viva la Oprah!
Obama looks unstoppable.
Hillary who?
And all of RFK’s kids are pulling for Hillary.
Maria Shriver is a great answer to the trivia question: Who was the only VIP invited guest to both the 2004 Democratic and Republican Presidential elections?