Congressman Andre Carson, Mel Watt & David Price Endorse Obama

 U.S. Congressmen Mel Watt and David Price have endorsed Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary. "Barack Obama is the candidate of positive change, transformational change, that will revitalize America at home and in the world. Barack Obama will work for every American every day," Watt said on a conference call with reporters this afternoon. Watt represents North Carolina's 12th congressional district, which includes part of Winston-Salem. Price said he believes that Obama can win North Carolina in the general election. He said, "I believe we can turn North Carolina blue in November." The announcement is a boon for Obama. Other than John Edwards and Gov. Mike Easley, Watt and Price were probably the most influential Democratic superdelegates in North Carolina whose endorsements had been up for grabs between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. Watt and Price, like other Democratic congressmen from North Carolina, had previously endorsed Edwards when he was still in the race. Among North Carolina's 21 Democratic superdelegates, six have now endorsed Obama and one has endorsed Clinton. [MORE]

Indiana Congressman Andre Carson Endorses Obama
Obama Indiana congressman and Democratic superdelegate Andre Carson is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president. Carson is the first of Indiana's five U.S. House Democrats to announce support for a presidential candidate.  Carson says Obama represents a new generation of leadership who will fight for hardworking Americans. Carson was elected in a March special election to fill out the remainder of his late grandmother's term. He faces three serious challengers in the state's May 6 primary. [MORE]

 Only 19 Of 100 Pennsylvania Mayors Turn Out For Clinton Rally In Harrisburg
From The Frontrunner The AP (4/16) reports, "Turnout at the '100 Mayors for Hillary' rally was a little under 20 percent. Nineteen mayors of Pennsylvania cities showed up for Tuesday's rally in the Rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol. Other mayors' names were listed on placards supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. ... Kathleen Strand of the Clinton campaign said rally organizers never expected all 100 mayors to attend and that some were participating in Clinton events in their home cities. But an Obama campaign spokesman said participation in the rally is 'about the same percentage of voters who actually care about this story.'"

 
Phili Mayor Michael Nutter's Flip Floppy Backing Of Clinton Examined
The New York Times (4/14, Vitello, 1.18M) examines the backing of Hillary Clinton by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (D). The Times said, "On issues he cared most about - combating crime, creating jobs, repairing the infrastructure of aging cities like Philadelphia - Mr. Nutter said he liked Mrs. Clinton's answers best." Nutter also dismisses as "silly" speculation that he doesn't back Obama because Obama endorsed his rival in the mayoral primary.

The Philadelphia Inquirer (4/14, Gelbart, 402K) reports, "Nutter predicted that Obama would win the race for president - in February 2007 - at a mayoral forum at Central High School. The Huffington Post, a political blog, posed the question to Nutter recently. Here is an excerpt: 'It wasn't so much a prediction,' he recalled. 'We were at a high school-sponsored candidates forum and we were asked who do you think will be the Democratic nominee or who will be the next president. I said I thought Sen. Obama. Now, at that point, I was at fifth place. Since I was a long shot and it appeared to me that he was a long shot, I was trying to get some solidarity with the long shots.' Had his political crystal ball changed? 'Absolutely,' Nutter replied, saying he thought Clinton would now win. 'Obviously, I had no way of knowing that we would be where we are here today. . . [back then] I was trying to give little hope to my own candidacy.'"