by Mike Dorning
Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat who has been elected in a conservative state to two terms as governor and two terms in the U.S. Senate, endorsed Barack Obama a few minutes ago, arguing the Illinois senator is the candidate best suited to reach across party lines to independents and Republicans.
Nelson said in a conference call with reporters that Obama “has the greatest potential to succeed in ending the bitterness and poisonous atmosphere in Washington.”
The Nebraska primary is on Feb. 9, four days after the 22-state “Super Tuesday” primary that could decide the presidential nomination.
“There is certainly a chance that this could continue on into February,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, who joined the conference call.
“We are beginning to really carefully plan for states that some after Feb. 5,” Plouffe added.”If Feb. 5 is not determinative, then we’re going to have to campaign really hard in all those states that come afterward.”