NEW YORK-A key Clinton backer announced Wednesday that he would move from backing Hillary Clinton to supporting Barack Obama in the race to be the Democratic Party's nominee.
Georgia congressman John Lewis said that he made the move to reflect the "will of the people." In a statement issued by Mr. Lewis on Wednesday, he said, "As a U.S. representative, it is my role not to try to subdue or suppress the will of the people, but to help it prosper and grow."
"Something is happening in America." "The people are pressing for a new day in American politics, and I think they see Sen. Barack Obama as a symbol of that change," his statement continued.
Television Debate Stalemate
The move comes a day after a heated television debate between Obama and Clinton in Cleveland. Analysts say the debate didn't help Clinton in her efforts to stop Obama's momentum as they head into the March caucuses.
Rep. Lewis' move puts further pressure on Senator Clinton, who has seen Obama take 11 back-to-back primary and caucus victories this month, defections among her own staff and superdelegates, and the layoff of some key campaign people.
Rep. John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights movement, is himself a Democratic "superdelegate" who has close ties to the Clinton family.
Lewis called his decision "difficult," but added that the people's enthusiasm was something he had "not seen in a long time, since the candidacy of Robert Kennedy."
Obama responded to the statement, saying he was "honored" to have Lewis' support and calling him an "American hero."
Mrs. Clinton responded by saying in an interview with KTRK that Rep. Lewis was under "tremendous pressure" and that "at the end of the day it's not about who's supporting us, it's what we're presenting" that voters would decide on.
Voters in Georgia voted en-masse for Obama in the state's primary that was held in February.
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