Obama camp rolls out KY endorsement list

On the heels of a narrow loss across the river in Indiana last night, the Obama campaign is ramping up efforts to lessen Senator Hillary Clinton's wide lead in Kentucky. On a conference call today, Obama superdelegate and Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) announced the launch of the Kentucky Leadership Committee, a forty-one member list of former and current elected officials supporting Obama's candidacy.

Yarmuth is joined on the committee by Congressman Ben Chandler (D-Versailles) - another Obama superdelegate - and former Congressmen Mike Ward (D-Louisville), Roman Mazzoli (D-Louisville), and Ken Lucas (D-Richwood).

Ten current members of the Kentucky legislature and a variety of former state legislators and city council members fill out the rest of the list in addition to one Mayor - Madisonville's Will Cox.

The Obama campaign announced endorsements from Cox and State Representative Dennis Keene (D-Wilder) on the call today.

"It is time for our party to unite behind Senator Obama and unite for a successful campaign in November," said Keene today.

Members representing thirteen different counties from throughout the state are included on the Committee, with a majority coming from the Louisville/Jefferson County area.

The Role of the Committee and Superdelegates

A spokesperson for the Obama campaign said the Leadership Committee would work with volunteers throughout the state to rally support the Illinois Senator in advance of the May 20 primary. Yesterday, former Governor Ray Mabus said the Obama campaign had 28,000 volunteers and 14 campaign offices throughout Kentucky.

Yarmuth said the Committee would also be a useful compliment to the Obama campaign's ground organization should Obama secure the Democratic nomination.

"We want to expand on that organization throughout the summer and the fall. We are going to contest this election in the fall very aggressively," said Yarmuth. "This will be a great launching point with this Leadership Committee and the volunteers around the state."

Yarmuth also noted the Committee could help sway Kentucky's three undecided superdelegates to Obama.

"One of the reasons this Leadership Committee is so important is because it shows that people that have been and are constantly subject to the whim and will of voters have been willing to come forward," said Yarmuth. "I think that is very important in terms of showing these uncommitted superdelegates that they will have support from other elected officials if they [endorse Obama].

Projections for May 20

In the most recent SurveyUSA poll of Kentucky, Senator Hillary Clinton leads Obama by 34 points. Yarmuth said he still expected a good showing from the Illinois Senator in the Bluegrass state.

"I know that the polls that have been done show this is a hard climb for Barack's campaign, but I am very confident we are going to perform extremely well," said Yarmuth. "We saw last night in both North Carolina and Indiana the way that momentum has gone in Senator Obama's direction. He is doing much better among working families and those without college educations - those categories of voters who had not supported him early on in the year. I think that trend will continue in Kentucky."

"We need, in Kentucky, to make a show of strength for Senator Obama because we are not writing off Kentucky in the general election at all," Yarmuth continued. "Because of the economic challenge Kentuckians face, I believe Kentucky can be a state that votes for Sen Obama in fall. I am not willing to conceded the state at all in the fall."

The Congressman also shrugged off suggestion that Hillary Clinton should quit the race following last night's primaries.

"I don't want her to drop out until May 21," said Yarmuth, pointing to the day after the Kentucky primary. "I think that it sustains interest in the campaign and sustains interest in our nomination...In my opinion, it does not hurt us if she stays in the race.

The Members of the Obama Campaign's Kentucky Leadership Committee

Below is the list of the members of the Committee, including their home county, as released by the Obama campaign.

Former Louisville Councilman Bill Allison, Jefferson

Former Councilwoman Denise Bentley, Jefferson

Elizabethtown City Council Member, Anthony Bishop, Hardin

Former City Council Member George Brown, Fayette

Congressman Ben Chandler, Woodford

Mayor of Madisonville, Will Cox, Hopkins

State Representative Jim Glenn, Daviess

Former Franklin County Judge William Graham, Franklin

Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Jefferson

Former State Senator Nicholas Kafoglis, Warren

Former State Senator David Karem, Jefferson

State Representative, Dennis Keene, Campbell

County Judge Executive Darrell Link, Grant

Former Congressman Ken Lucas, Boone

Former State Senator Michael Maloney, Fayette

Former Congressman Romano Mazzoli, Jefferson

State Representative Reginald Meeks, Jefferson

Former State Senator Danny Meyer, Oldham

Former Lexington Mayor Pam Miller, Fayette

Former State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, Fayette

State Senator Gerald Neal, Jefferson

County Judge Executive Billy O'Banion, Owen

Louisville Councilman Tom Owen, Jefferson

State Representative Darryl Owens, Jefferson

Former Circuit Judge Lewis Paisley, Fayette

State Representative Ruth Palumbo, Fayette

Former State Senator Georgia Powers, Jefferson

Campbell County Commissioner, Ken Rechtin, Campbell

State Senator Ernesto Scorsone, Fayette

Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin, Jefferson

State Senator Tim Shaughnessy, Jefferson

County Commonwealth Attorney Gordie Shaw, Woodford

Bardstown City Council Member, Bill Sheckles, Nelson

Former Bowling Green Mayor Patsy Sloan, Warren

Louisville Councilman David Tandy, Jefferson

Councilman George Unseld, Jefferson

Former Congressman Mike Ward, Jefferson

State Representative Jim Wayne, Jefferson

State Representative Susan Westrom, Fayette

Councilwoman Mary Woolridge, Jefferson

Congressman John Yarmuth, Jefferson