MAYOR DALEY ENDORSES OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT  

In a major, early victory for his fledgling campaign for the Presidency in 2008, Sen. Barack Obama was endorsed for President by Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago.  Obama recently has surged upwards in the polls asking Democrats whom they favor for President.  He is running closely behind the perceived Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.  In making his endorsement, Mayor Daley was quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times as saying:  "When in our history have we ever had a favorite son this close to the (White House)?  Why not get on board early?" 

The last time Daley endorsed early in the primary season was in 1998 when he and his brother Bill Daley announced their support for Vice President Al Gore who went on to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000.  According to the Chicago newspaper, Obama is expected to announce his candidacy next month.  This is an important endorsement which has to be a disappointment to the Hillary Clinton campaign.