Former presidential hopeful endorses Obama
“Barack Obama is building a broad new coalition that brings together Democrats, independents and Republicans by once again making idealism a central focus of our politics,” said Mr Bradley in a statement released by Mr Obama’s campaign.
“Because of his enormous appeal to Americans of all ages and backgrounds, Obama is the candidate best positioned to win in November... His movement for change could create a new era of American politics — truly a new American story.”
Mr Bradley, a hall of fame professional basketball player, will campaign for Mr Obama today, said aides for the Obama camp.
The aides, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement, said they hoped the endorsement would help Mr Obama end rival Hillary Clinton’s status as the national frontrunner.
Ms Clinton finished a disappointing third in Iowa’s caucuses last week and is deadlocked with Mr Obama in New Hampshire, according to a poll released on Saturday.
The CNN-WMUR poll conducted on Friday night and Saturday afternoon showed the two in a tight race, each with 33% support. A second poll, from the Concord Monitor and Research 2000, shows Mr Obama at 34% and Ms Clinton at 33%.
New Hampshire’s presidential primary is tomorrow.
Mr Bradley, who represented New Jersey in the Senate, ran in the 2000 presidential primary against vice-president Al Gore, appealing to the party’s liberal base and portraying himself as an alternative to Mr Gore. Mr Bradley failed to win because many of New Hampshire’s largest voting bloc — independents — flocked to Arizona Senator John McCain.
Mr Bradley briefly considered running in 2004, but instead supported the then-Vermont governor Howard Dean.
Mr Obama said he was grateful for Mr Bradley’s endorsement. “Bill Bradley has always called on Americans to reach for what is possible in our politics,” said Mr Obama. “As a presidential candidate and author, he has continued to challenge us to build a mandate for pragmatic solutions and progressive change.”
Mr Obama’s state director Matt Rodriguez was a top aide to Mr Bradley’s campaign in 2000.
