Napolitano: Obama "Is Evidence Of That Change That We Need"
A rising star in the Democratic Party, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano expressed her support for Barack Obama in a conference call with reporters this afternoon, saying that she struggled with the decision but is backing Obama because he is "evidence of that change that we need."
"I thought very deeply about this decision, and in my view it wasn’t about gender, nor was it about race," she said on the call with Obama.
Napolitano, a New Yorker by birth, said that Obama and Hillary Clinton are "two eminently qualified individuals" but noted about Obama: "This endorsement is really based on my belief in your leadership, in your vision and the fact that I believe we need a new message of hope and solidarity, of coming together in Washington D.C., and you bring that fresh voice, that fresh vision, that our nation’s capital so desperately needs."
Obama returned the praise, saying that Napolitano's hallmark is "common sense."
"She doesn’t govern on ideology but on practicality … I’m proud to have her support," he said.
When asked by a reporter if there might be a place in his Cabinet for Napolitano, the first female head of the National Governors Association, Obama said that she has the "kind of tone and temperment that I'd want to see in my government, in my administration rather." He praised her work on immigration, education and economic development, adding that Napolitano has proposed "sweeping property and income tax cuts" and raised teacher pay.
"I think that any wise Democratic president would see the potential of Gov. Napolitano to do all kinds of important things," he said. "She’s just a singular talent out there."
With Western caucuses coming up, Napolitano's endorsement could be a significant help to the Illinois senator.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
I listen carefully to Gov. Napolitano's endorsement statement of senator Obama, and I cannot but wonder if these folks don’t feel any shame. The transparency of a vacuous endorsement justified on the basis of "Mr. Obama will bring change" to paraphrase! Gov. Napolitano is free to embrace any candidate, but we deserve more than an empty slogan as a justification for the endorsement. Mrs. Napolitano, in the immortal words of Clara Peller, WHERE IS THE BEEF?
So many Clinton staffers trolling the net!!
Obama symbolises change! Clinton... old guard!