<snip>
OLYMPIA — The woman who chaired John Edwards' 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns in Washington state announced Friday she is now backing Sen. Barack Obama.
Jenny Durkan, a Seattle attorney, said she was disappointed that Edwards fared so poorly in other states and had to bow out of the race earlier this week. But she said she feels strongly that Obama is a better choice than Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I truly believe the country needs a new direction and it needs it both on a political level and on a spiritual level," Durkan said. "We need someone who can appeal to our better angels ... and I think he's the person best equipped to do that."
Durkan said Obama has been more consistent than Clinton in opposing the Iraq war, a stance she said will be key in winning the general election. And, after nearly three decades of having a Bush or Clinton in the White House, Durkan said it's time for a change.
"We're not a country of dynasties," she said.
Durkan is a close political ally of Gov. Christine Gregoire, who plans to announce next week whom she is endorsing.
As the state's Feb. 9 precinct caucuses approach, the Obama and Clinton campaigns are both aggressively pursuing Edwards supporters and prominent Democratic leaders who remain uncommitted.
During a campaign swing through Washington on Friday, Sen. John Kerry — the party's presidential nominee in 2004 — met privately in Seattle with some of those people to try to persuade them to back Obama.
<snip>
Link:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004159817_obama02m.html:woohoo: