Getting on the train

First off, I'd like to thank Larry Thorson for the shout-out, and Bret and the Miami-Dade Dems for the invite to contribute. I've been blogging for several years (at reidreport.com) as well as working as a freelance journalist and radio personality (most recently at NewsTalk 1080 AM). More about that some other time...

Now, some news.

Since he clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, there has been a rush by members of Congress to switch their allegiance form Hillary Clinton (or uncommitted) to Barack Obama. Earlier today, MSNBC's First Read counted 19 Congressional superdelegates who made the switch, including swing staters Sen. Ken Salazar of my former home state, Colorado, Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Rep. Tom Udall of New Mexico and the latest, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (who's also a potential v.p. pick.) That's not including the en masse endorsement of Obama by the New York delegation, led by the dean, former HRC supporter Charlie Rangel (who also led that 24-member conference call that forcibly cut short Hillary Clinton's post-campaign reflection time.)

I got a tip this afternoon that the Florida delegation will follow suit, and endorse Obama as soon as this afternoon. No press conference, just a statement. The move would theoretically jump start the healing process between the Congressional Black Caucus members (Kendrick Meek, Alcee Hastings and Corinne Brown,) and some of their constituents, who smarted over the members' endorsement of Clinton over Obama, even after all three districts favored Obama by double-digit margins in the January primary. (For the sake of irony, Obama Guy Robert Wexler's district went for Hillary by a wide margin.)

No statement has been issued yet, so this one's still developing...

Update: The endorsement statement, from Corinne Brown, Kendrick Meek, Alcee Hastings and Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been released. It reads in part:

“It is with enthusiasm and excitement that we endorse Barack Obama for president.

“We are looking forward to working with Senator Obama in the days, weeks, and months ahead. America cannot afford another four years of failed Republican leadership, and we are committed to doing anything and everything in our power to ensure that Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States.

“We also ask Senator Obama to do everything in his power to see to it that Florida has a full delegation to the Democratic National Convention with full voting rights.

“We congratulate Senator Clinton for a hard-fought campaign. Never in our lifetimes did we think that we would have the choice of a woman or an African American for the office of the presidency. We hope Americans realize how much the two of them have done for our country during this campaign. America is, indeed, a better place for having the two of them run for the highest office in the land.