February 7, 2008

Potomac Primary: Barry to Endorse Obama



The Cold Splash of Reality, With A Side of Sizzle
D.C. Council member Marion Barry will endorse Barack Obama for president later this week. The former Washington mayor told me he has selected Obama because "he's a fresh start, a new direction. I listened to him Sunday morning on C-SPAN and it was like a breath of fresh air."

Barry, who remains popular in his Southeast Washington ward and in neighborhoods where longtime residents feel as if the city they grew up in is changing without them, said he was an early supporter of Bill Clinton back in 1992 and that he was "close to endorsing Hillary this time." But as Barry has watched the campaign, he has concluded that Sen. Clinton represents older and less flexible forces in the Democratic party.

Barry expects that Obama will win in Tuesday's D.C. primary, but cautioned that the contest will be closer than might be expected based on a purely racial reading of the electorate.

Mayor Adrian Fenty has endorsed Obama as well, as have council members Muriel Bowser (Ward 4), Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Yvette Alexander (Ward 7.) Council members Jim Graham (Ward 1), Jack Evans (Ward 2) and Mary Cheh (Ward 3) have lined up behind Hillary Clinton.

By Marc Fisher | February 7, 2008; 7:00 AM ET

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