Political People: John Kerry slaps Edwards and Clinton, picks Obama

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the White House Thursday in a slap at Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as John Edwards, who was his VP of choice in the last election. U.S. Senator John Kerry (Democrat- Massachusetts) (L) talk with U.S. Senator Barack Obama (Democrat- Illinois) (R) during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. USA. Obama is vying for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination and has picked up the endorsement of Kerry, the party's candidate in 2004. EPA/STEFAN ZAKLIN

U.S. Senator John Kerry (Democrat- Massachusetts) (L) talk with U.S. Senator Barack Obama (Democrat- Illinois) (R) during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. USA. Obama is vying for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination and has picked up the endorsement of Kerry, the party's candidate in 2004. EPA/STEFAN ZAKLINKerry declared, "Martin Luther King Jr. said the time is always right to do what is right. And I'm here in South Carolina because this is the right time to share with you, to make sure that we know that I have the confidence ... and that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be the next president of the United States."Kerry lost big in the 2004 primary in South Carolina to a triumphant John Edwards, yet two weeks before that state's primary, when Clinton is riding a wave of enthusiasm following her victory over Obama in the New Hampshire primary, he returns to a state that never really cottoned ot him.Kerry said there were other candidates in the race whom he also had worked with and respected."But I believe more than anyone else, Barack Obama can help our country turn the page and get America moving by uniting and ending the division we have faced," Kerry said.Kerry took a swipe at Obama critics who say the Illinois senator lacks the experience to be president."We are electing judgment and character, not years on this earth," said Kerry, who added that Obama, an opponent of the Iraq war, was "right about the war in Iraq from the beginning."Despite Kerry and Edwards political alliance in 2004, the two men were not close personally and differed behind the scenes on campaign strategy in a race that President Bush won.Edwards responded to word of the endorsement with a diplomatic statement: "Our country and our party are stronger because of John's service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues."Kerry had withheld his endorsement, hoping to have an impact on the race and avoid the fate of fellow Democrat Al Gore, the 2000 nominee who endorsed Howard Dean in 2004 shortly before the former Vermont governor's campaign imploded. Gore has not tipped his hat yet.Kerry allegedly was still wadded up over a 2006 comment made by Hillary, when she chided him after Kerry suggested that people who don't go to school "get stuck in Iraq." Aides said Kerry meant to jab at Bush and say "get us stuck in Iraq," and that he didn't appreciate Clinton heaping more criticism than he was already getting for the remark.The Republican National Committee pounced on the endorsement to brand Kerry and Obama "liberal soul mates."