Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ) Switches to Obama from Edwards

[MadBadger]

PHOENIX — Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona is endorsing Barack Obama after earlier backing John Edwards in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Grijalva cited Obama's electability and his intention to "fundamentally change the rules of the game" in Washington, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press in advance of a planned Tuesday conference call with reporters.

The third-term congressman, whose southern Arizona district includes Yuma and parts of Tucson, is the second prominent Arizona Democrat to endorse Obama in the immediate run-up to the state's Feb. 5 presidential primary.

Gov. Janet Napolitano endorsed Obama on Jan. 11 after being courted by Obama and rival Hillary Rodham Clinton. Since then, Napolitano has campaigned for Obama in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

Clinton has led Obama and Edwards in the first of two recent polls but the margin between Clinton and Obama decreased in the second.
Grijalva had endorsed Edwards on May 3, saying the former senator from North Carolina "has shown principled leadership on the way in Iraq and on economic opportunity in America."

In the statement explaining his switch to Obama, Grijalva said it "was not a repudiation of Senator Edwards, rather the understanding that Senator Barack Obama is the future."

"The best opportunity to win in November rests with Senator Obama," Grijalva added. "I am proud to support Senator Obama as we move forward toward the nomination. This election is not merely about moving the pieces around in Washington D.C., but to fundamentally change the rules of the game. I am proud to help Senator Obama work toward that change."

Obama said in the statement he was proud to have Grijalva's support and that they shared commitments on education, health care and economic policies.
A Tucson native and the son of an immigrant laborer from Mexico, Griljalva served on the Tucson Unified School District board and the Pima County Board of Supervisors before being elected to Congress in 2002.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama will appear at a late Wednesday afternoon campaign rally at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix:
Campaign officials say doors will open at 3:30 p.m. MST with final admissions ending at 5:30 p.m. MST.
The coliseum is located in central Phoenix, about a mile west of downtown.

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/222671

[goodhue]

1. That is a good pick up

Obama is well-poised to win Arizona

[goldcanyonaz]

2. Rumor around these parts is that Napolitano wants the vp slot.

No link, just people talking out and about.

Great pickup for O.