Rare Daley move: Endorses Obama for primary

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Mayor Daley has decided to abandon his long-standing tradition of remaining neutral in Democratic primaries and endorse Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential race, City Hall sources said Tuesday.

"Here you have not only an Illinoisan, but a Chicagoan who is a major contender for the highest office in the land. . . . When in our history have we ever had a favorite son this close to [the White House]? Why not get on board early?" said a Daley confidant, who asked to remain unnamed. "Hillary Clinton has been a great senator, a wonderful civic leader. But logic dictates that a Chicago mayor would be behind the Chicagoan who has taken the world by storm. Beyond that, this man has tremendous potential. The world sees that. It stands to reason that the mayor sees it."

Daley's early endorsement will mark the second time in 17 years he has taken such a stand before Democratic primary voters have made their choice.

In January 1998, he endorsed Vice President Al Gore with the presidential vote nearly two years away. Daley's brother Bill Daley, then U.S. Commerce secretary, later became Gore campaign chairman.



This time, the Daley brothers are solidly in Obama's camp.

As Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported this week, Bill Daley has signed on as a senior adviser to Obama, who is expected to formally enter the presidential race next month.

Sources said the mayor's decision to embrace Obama was made before his brother reserved a seat on the senator's bandwagon. The mayor and Obama have been meeting about the subject for months, huddling for 2½ hours at City Hall as recently as last week.

Obama gets the support of the "ethically" challenged wing of the Democratic Party.