Cantwell backs Clinton

DES MOINES – Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) became the 10th U.S. senator to endorse Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) presidential bid Monday.

{mosads}“Hillary is ready to address our energy challenges on day one with a bold, comprehensive plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and move America toward a renewable energy future,” Cantwell stated.

Clinton is locked in a three-way tie in Iowa with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.).

“The fact that 10 U.S. senators have endorsed Hillary in the midst of a heated primary race speaks volumes—they know that she is ready to lead this country on Day One,” the Clinton campaign said in a statement.  “And most importantly, they believe she is the most electable Democrat in the field.”

Clinton lauded the endorsement as another sign of her electability, a key factor all of the campaigns are pushing in the closing days.

“I’m honored to have such strong support from my colleagues across the country,” Clinton said. “They have concluded that I would be the best president and the Democrat most likely to be elected in 2008.”

In endorsing Clinton, Cantwell joins Democratic Sens. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Daniel Inouye (Haw.), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Barbara Mikulski (Md.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.).