"KENNEDY EAGERLY STUMPS FOR OBAMA..." (with video)

Ari Melber (The Nation), with video (00:55):

Senator Ted Kennedy is not wasting any time in his new advocacy for Barack Obama's campaign. After the official endorsement rally in Washington on Monday, Kennedy took to the airwaves to tout Obama in an interview with PBS' Tavis Smiley before the State of the Union.

"The one overriding issue is which of these candidates can galvanize the Democratic party, can galvanize America," Kennedy said. "My sense is that Barack Obama has the ability to bring together young and old, black and white, the people from all different parts of our country, call on the best within them and get the job done for not just the Democratic party but for our country." He also repeated the idea that Obama offers the kind of historic inspiration and leadership associated with JFK and RFK. "I think Barack Obama brings this same sense of vision, this same sense of uplift, this same sense of hope, the same challenge to the young people that my brothers brought," he added.

Smiley also asked why "so many of the powerful white male members of the U.S. Senate, past and present, are lining up behind Barack Obama," while "the majority of the Congressional Black Caucus ... though not by much, has gotten behind Hillary Clinton"? Kennedy answered that many politicians endorsed people based on personal relationships, but he was moved by Obama because he combines inspiration with the ability to get the job done. "We want elect the person that can get the job done," he said. "And to get the job done you have to bring people together. And to bring people together you have to be Barack Obama."

Barack Obama