Arizona Gov. Napolitano to back Obama

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president on Friday, according to The Associated Press.

The Obama campaign has scheduled a conference call for 2:30 p.m. ET, when the Illinois Democrat is expected to receive her endorsement.

{mosads}Napolitano’s move should give Obama a boost in her state’s Feb. 5 Democratic primary, which will be open only to registered party members. Last year, Napolitano scheduled the primary on the same day as 21 other states, hoping that presidential candidates would address immigration, growth and infrastructure, and other issues important to Arizona.

Napolitano, 50, was first elected governor in 2002 and reelected in 2006. She also served as the U.S. attorney in Arizona and as the state's attorney general. She has been mentioned as a possible candidate for vice president or the Senate.

This week, Obama also received the endorsements of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and former Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.).

Former Connecticut senatorial candidate Ned Lamont (D) on Wednesday also endorsed Obama.