Group of neutral senators throw support behind Obama

Eight previously uncommitted Democratic senators on Wednesday announced that they would back Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), their party’s presumptive nominee.

{mosads}“As senators who remained neutral in this contest, we are proud of Sens. Obama and [Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.)] for breaking down barriers that some believed were unbreakable and for inspiring millions in our country to participate in our political process, many for the first time,” said Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Ben Cardin (Md.), Tom Carper (Del.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Mary Landrieu (La.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), Ken Salazar (Colo.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.) in a joint statement.

“Our focus now is on victory in November and on giving Barack Obama every ounce of our support, every bit of our energy, and our total commitment to do everything in our power to win the presidency,” the senators said.

They stressed that unity is the key to achieving that goal.

“We want to say, to the Clinton supporters who worked their hearts out and whom we know are very disappointed, that their extraordinary effort on her behalf has strengthened our party and strengthened our nation,” the senators said. “They should be proud of her groundbreaking candidacy and her tireless fight for America’s families.”

Many congressional superdelegates publicly announced their support for Obama once he had clinched the number of delegates necessary to clinch the nomination Tuesday night. The party leadership put out a statement early Wednesday morning asking that uncommitted superdelegates make their decision known by Friday.