Grijalva jumps on Obama bandwagon

Democratic U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva today said that he had decided to switch his presidential endorsement from John Edwards to Barack Obama because “this is an election that needs to be won,” and that Obama offered the best opportunity to change the direction of the country.

“I respect (Edwards). He’s a decent man,” Grijalva said.

Grijalva’s explanation for his switch was a subtle reminder that the presidential prospects for Edwards, who has yet to win a primary, were fading fast.

Grijalva, whose Seventh Congressional District seat spans the outer perimeter of Tucson, endorsed Edwards on March 3, 2007.

"I strongly believe that John Edwards is the right man for the Democrats to nominate for the White House in 2008," Grijalva said at the time. "He has shown principled leadership on the way in Iraq and on economic opportunity in America."

But today the Congressman was lavishing praise on Obama.

“This is a transcending moment in American history,” Grijalva said. “Obama represents that moment.”

“So many times we move the pieces or players on the board. Obama wants to change the game.”

Grijalva addressed what some have seen as a challenge for the Obama campaign: winning the support of the Hispanic population. Exit polls in Nevada indicated that Clinton won 65% of the Hispanic population.

“As Latinos become more familiar with Obama and what he represents, the momentum will pick up,” Grijalva said.

The Congressman argued that the Latino community’s feeling of loyalty to the Clintons was not something Obama could not necessarily overcome. Latino voters, Grijalva said, are often independent and young – groups that Obama’s “message will resonate” with.

Grijalva had harsh words for Bill Clinton, arguing that the former President’s attacks on Obama “cheapened” the process.

He also took aim at what he saw as Bill Clinton’s injection of race into the campaign.

“This should be a color-blind campaign,” he said.

Grijalva was introduced at the outset of the call by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, who said that Grijalva would play a central role in the campaign’s effort in Arizona.