When looking at the Democratic Party’s informal leadership, there are a handful of powerhouses whose endorsements every presidential candidate would love to have: Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and Howard Dean come to mind. Clinton, of course, is clearly spoken for, and Dean, as chairman of the DNC, is committed to staying neutral. Gore, meanwhile, has been shying away from partisan politics, while Kerry, the 2004 nominee, has cast his lot with Barack Obama.
And what of Ted Kennedy? The connection between Obama and JFK has been considered in detail for a while now, and many note the similarities between the young senators who helped inspire young voters. Theodore Sorensen, the legendary JFK speechwriter, has himself promoted the similarities heavily, and it’s not at all unusual to hear voters sympathetic to Obama make the same link.
Today, in an NYT op-ed, Caroline Kennedy endorsed Obama, saying, “I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me my father inspired them. And for the first time, I believe that I have found that man.” Asked this morning about Ted Kennedy’s possible support, Obama told George Stephanopoulos, “I’ll let Ted Kennedy speak for himself. And nobody does it better…. I will let him make his announcement and his decision when he decides it’s appropriate.”
Apparently, there was a reason for Obama’s evasiveness.
ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Senator Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., will endorse Barack Obama’s presidential bid on Monday in Washington, a source close to Kennedy tells ABC News.
The endorsement gives Obama a boost in the eyes of the Washington establishment, and comes after some prominent Democrats criticized Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former president Bill Clinton for their campaign tactics before Obama’s landslide victory in South Carolina.
This afternoon, CNN ran a similar report, suggesting that it’s probably true.
So, will Kennedy’s support matter? I’m generally skeptical about the value of endorsements, even from high-profile figures. That said, Kennedy remains a hero to a lot of Democrats, and gaining the support of the Senate’s “Liberal Lion” may have at least some influence on Obama’s ability to connect with the party’s progressive base.
Also, it’s probably worth noting that Kennedy remains a dominant figure in Massachusetts politics, and the Bay State is among the more than 20 contests on Feb. 5
The Boston Globe adds:
The coveted endorsement is a huge blow to New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who is both a senatorial colleague and a friend of the Kennedy family. In a campaign where Clinton has trumpeted her experience over Obama’s call for hope and change, the endorsement by one of the most experienced and respected Democrats in the Senate is a particularly dramatic coup for Obama.
What’s more, Ben Smith noted a few days ago that the Clinton campaign was “worried” about Ted Kennedy backing Obama: “Two sources say she’s directed a flood of calls the senator’s way, with everyone from union leaders to his Massachusetts constituents scrambling to stop what Clinton’s camp is worried could be an endorsement of Obama.”
We’ll see if this has a significant effect; given Kennedy’s standing, it certainly won’t hurt. In the big picture, I suspect the real benefit here for Obama is one of stature. Ted Kennedy is a legend in the party, and helps represent the Democratic establishment, most of which has backed Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
It also points to a possible trend. Since the New Hampshire primary, seven Democratic senators (if we include Kennedy) have announced presidential endorsements — and six of the seven have backed Obama. (For the record, the six are Tim Johnson, John Kerry, Pat Leahy, Claire McCaskill, Ben Nelson, and Kennedy. Clinton’s came from Florida’s Bill Nelson.)
There may have been an impression among some that Obama was the choice of young people and some movie stars. Slowly but surely, it appears the party establishment is suddenly up for grabs, as well.
Stay tuned.