Wow! That's all I can say after hearing John Edwards' great speech casting his support behind Barack Obama and Barack following up with a great speech of his own!

That crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan was incredible! I've watched many of Obama's rallies(and I was even part of the crowd of 17,000+ at his rally in Grand Forks, North Dakota at the ND Democratic Convention), but that crowd today had more energy than any I can remember. I'm proud of my home state for turning out to show such great support for the next President of the United States!

I've seen plenty of links to videos of the speeches, but I haven't seen one for the transcript. As a result I'm writing this short diary mainly for the purpose of providing a link to the transcript of both speeches. Enjoy reading these historic words over and over again!

Here's the link to the transcript from washingtonpost.com:  

Edwards Endorses Obama for President

Surprised I don't see any video up yet.  So, here's one great American introducing another.  

Part I:

Part II:

I was this close to predicting an Edwards endorsement right after West Virginia -- I just expect big news from the Obama campaign after a rough voting day.  Like Teddy after New Hampshire.  But now, it's also floodgates time.  So, who's going to be the next big endorsement?  Webb?  Gore?  Clinton?

John Edwards' speech was one of the most sexist, condescending, patronizing speeches I have ever heard in my life...

Wow! People talk about being "Fired Up and Ready to Go" at Obama rallies, but I must say I never imagined seeing what I just saw in Grand Rapids, in the heart of conservative West Michigan.

An endorsement from John Edwards.

File this under "Did she REALLY say that?!?!"

At the beginning of the race for the Democratic nomination in early 2007 I said my dream ticket would be Edwards/Obama. It would be two strong Democrats who could bring change to this country. Edwards was a great leader and Obama would get some experience and be ready to make a run for the Presidency in eight years. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum, Senator Obama proved that experience was not important and took the race for the Democratic nomination by storm. Soon it was down to him and Senator Clinton and I had to think of a new dream ticket. I didn't consider Senator Edwards because I did not think he would be interested in the Vice-President's spot again. But I now have changed my mind.

This is not a joke.

This is not an illusion or an imaginary story.

We have not slipped into an alternate utopian universe.

John Edwards (THE John Edwards, Senator, married to Elizabeth, not some other bloke) is about to endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States.

I know there are other diaries and stories on this, but dammit - I'm happy!

This has been hinted at all day today
here & here & here

Edwards and Obama set up a surprise event at 6:30pm tonight in the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids to make this important announcement.

Today the Pro-Choice Group Naral, endorsed Senator Barack Obama.  This should be a good thing, this should help us women move forward looking towards the General Election, but I am saddened by my fellow women and their attacks towards Naral.  I would like to encourage my fellow female Obama supporters to thank Naral for their courageous choice and let them know they did not commit the ultimate betrayal as some have said.

Starting the day out right after last night's loss in West Virginia, team Obama announces the support of not one, but two new superdelegates (via The Page), albeit one is only worth half a delegate:

For Obama:

1. Democrats Abroad Chair Christine Schon Marques (worth 0.5 of a delegate)

2. Indiana Rep. Pete Visclosky.

3. College Democrat Chairs Awais Khaleel (WI) and Lauren Wolfe (MI) endorsed late last night (although credit with only one delegate since Michigan supers don't count yet...)

For Clinton:

1. Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women head Vicky Harwell (add-on, NOT an undecided super declaring) - CORRECTION: an add-on, but previously undeclared

That makes todays count Obama +2.5, Clinton +1.  Send me more tips as the endorsements come in and I'll update this thread as the day goes.   (p.s. since IN/NC, Obama has won more super delegates than the total number of delegates at stake in WV last night)

Three former chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission will publicly endorse Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's bid for the presidency Wednesday, including one who served under President Bush.

Sorry, I was getting sick and tired of each new super announcement getting a diary.  Therefore, here is an open thread on the supers for the day.  I'll update this as more supers come out for both Obama and Clinton today.

Today ends at O+4, C+0, with Anita Bonds apparently coming out at the fifth Obama super but with no 100% confirmation, we'll wait for another day's Super Delegate Open Thread to add her name.

Thanks everyone once again - tomorrow WV votes and then it's on to Or and Ky (go cats!)

Barack Obama has overtaken Hillary Clinton in the NBC NEWS superdelegate count with the endorsement of Hawaii's Dolly Strazar. This is his second of the day and puts him now officially over the top, 277-276.5.

From: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

Somebody asked for a concise list of the supers, so here we go:

• Rep. Tom Allen (ME)
• DNC Dolly Strazar (HI)
• DNC R. Keith Roark (ID)
• Sen. Akaka (HI)

The last one is not "official", but Obama won 80% of the vote in Idaho. Does anybody doubt he's going to come out for Obama?

[crossposted at Loaded Orygun, Oregon's progressive community...]

Does this qualify as an endorsement? On Friday, during the KPOJ Morning Show in Portland featuring national broadcaster Thom Hartmann, he and broadcasting colleague Carl Wolfson divulged their Senate votes while taking a call from a 70-year old Aloha voter who is also going with Steve.

Click the link for the audio, here's the transcript:

Thom Hartmann: Ben in Aloha, nice to welcome you to the  show, Ben.

Ben in Aloha: Hey, thank you guys, I would really like to  thank that lady for keeping the faith out there. And I would also like to  mention Steve Novick's campaign. I'm 70 years old and I think that Steve is the  best chance that we have to move Oregon forward in the Senate --

Thom: I would tell you Ben, I voted for him yesterday. We  mailed in our ballots this morning.[emph me]

{the rest, below}

Didn't see this Diaried anywhere yet, but it appears that Obama has taken the lead over Hillary in Supers according to AP.

Obama overtakes Clinton in Democratic superdelegates

Obama added superdelegates from Utah and Ohio, as well as two from the Virgin Islands who had previously backed Clinton. The additions enabled Obama to surpass Clinton's total for the first time in the campaign.

http://news.yahoo.com/...

There's a new article over at newsweek.com from Elenor Clift, about how Obama and Hillary's paths will eventually have to cross during the fall. She doesn't endorse the "dream ticket" idea, but says that Obama will defenetley have to please the Clintons. But thats not the interesting part! (at least, not the MOST)

Anyone watching John Edwards on MSNBC's Morning Joe?  He just slipped.

We have crossed another landmark moment in the superdelegate race.  With the endorsement of Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR) and the flip of Rep. Donald Payne (NJ), even under Clinton counting of the Florida/Michigan delegations, Barack Obama leads in every individual category of elected superdelegate:  Governor, Senator, Representative.  

True, the race is in the post-checkmate phase, but it sure is fun officially touching the bases and I have had this diary in the queue for some time, so here it is.

Barack Obama leads in Governors 14-11 [14-12].

Barack Obama leads in Senators 18-13 [18-15].  Maria Cantwell will flip after May 20, so it's really 19-12 [19-14].

Barack Obama leads in Representatives 83-78 [86-85].

[Florida and Michigan in brackets]

At some point the Democrats will choose a nominee and the losing candidate will undoubtedly endorse the nominee for President. Should you follow their advice?  In the reasoning process we often apply the constructs of logic. One of the basic logical constructs is the syllogism, a process of deductive reasoning that traces its origins back to the Greek philosophers. The following syllogisms are presented for your consideration: