Obama gains endorsement of Nebraska’s Sen. Nelson
OMAHA — Presidential hopeful Barack Obama won the endorsement Saturday of Sen. Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat in largely Republican Nebraska who said he believes Obama has ability to bridge the partisan divide and to carry Democratic candidates across the country to victory in 2008.
Nelson, pledging support for his Illinois colleague, said Obama has “the greatest potential to ending the bitterness and poisonous atmosphere in Washington.” He said that Obama’s victory speech after winning Iowa’s Jan. 3 caucuses was an effort to reach out to Democrats, independents and “enlightened Republicans,” and that Obama’s campaign epitomizes what Nelson has tried to do.
Obama is the “prototype of what we need today,” said Nelson, who served two terms as governor.
Nebraska Democrats will choose a presidential candidate Feb. 9, four days after 24 states hold contests on Feb. 5.
Nelson often votes with his GOP colleagues, and in 2005 won praise from President Bush, who called Nelson “a man with whom I can work.”
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