by Christi Parsons
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) this morning endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, saying he thinks the Illinois Democrat is the candidate with the best chance of improving the country’s global standing.
Leahy, a six-term veteran and a longstanding opponent of the war in Iraq, said that he admires fellow Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and former colleague John Edwards of North Carolina but that he thinks Obama is better able to “express America’s values” to the world.
“I believe many around the world have lost respect for America,” Leahy said. “We can restore that respect, but we need a president who can reintroduce America to the world.”
Drawing a not-so-subtle parallel to contestants in the 1960 Democratic primary, Leahy said that, as a college student, he supported John F. Kennedy over Lyndon Johnson.
“Nobody doubted the great experience of Lyndon Johnson,” he said. “But I never questioned my commitment.”