WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Chandler announces endorsement for Obama

Chandler announces endorsement for Obama

By Elizabeth Donatelli

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Indiana voters will head to the polls in one week and they could decide who will be the democratic presidential candidate. WAVE 3's Elizabeth Donatelli reports that Sen. Barack Obama has picked up an endorsement from a Kentucky lawmaker.

"Let me tell you what it's like on the floor of the House of Representatives these days if you're an uncommitted delegate," began Rep. John Yarmuth of the Louisville area. "It's not a lot of fun."

Yarmuth endorsed Obama early February. Just weeks before the Kentucky primary fellow Congressman Ben Chandler, also a super delegate, followed suit.

"I'm impressed by his ideas, by his quiet strength, by his commitment to our country, his dedicated public service," said Chandler of Obama.

Chandler said it was a tough decision especially while Clinton is ahead in Kentucky. A Preston-Osborne poll shows her beating Obama two to one. That poll came out April 2^nd. Still chandler said he's doing what he thinks is the best for the country.

"Anything that you do is a political risk along these lines, but in my view the stakes are too high to worry about that," said Chandler.

Dewey Clayton associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville said announcing before the primary may be smarter than waiting until afterwards.

"It would probably be more problematic if after the election occurred and polls had clearly showed his constituents had voted for Clinton," said Clayton.

With the Indiana primary across the river just one week away, the Chandler name could help sway voters in the Hoosier state as well. His grandfather was a well-known political figure and the commissioner of baseball.

"The greater Louisville metropolitan area includes southern Indiana and so clearly any sort of endorsement here, people are going to be very familiar with what's going into Louisville," said Clayton. "Louisville is the city."

Chandler said he is going to be helpful to the campaign, but did not elaborate on specifics.

Online Reporter: Elizabeth Donatelli

Online Producer: Charles Gazaway