Rep. Rick Larsen endorses Barack Obama for president

By MATTHEW DALY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Rick Larsen Thursday endorsed Barack Obama for president, calling him "the best candidate to turn our best hopes for a better future into reality."

Obama's performance this week in primaries in North Carolina and Indiana show "he can take a pounding and come back strong to deliver his message of hope and change," Larsen said. "He is tough as nails."

Larsen, a four-term Democrat who represents Everett, Bellingham and other areas north of Seattle, said Obama "has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate."

Obama overwhelmingly won the 2nd Congressional District in the state's Feb. 19 primary - a fact Larsen said played a role in his decision.

"Obama won 80-20 in my district, and that energy continues to be there," Larsen said. "That's one consideration."

The Illinois senator will be the strongest candidate for the party, with best chance of defeating Republican John McCain, Larsen said, adding that he was particularly impressed with Obama's "truth-telling" on a summer-long gas-tax holiday supported by McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton. Obama called it a gimmick that would not do anything to solve the country's long-term energy problems.

"It's a proposal that makes no sense," Larsen said, adding that Obama was willing to say so, even at the risk of alienating voters angry at high gas prices.

Larsen, who was undecided for months, said he decided to make an endorsement now because of Obama's strong performance Tuesday in North Carolina and Indiana. Obama easily won the North Carolina primary and came close in Indiana.

"Frankly, I was impressed at Sen. Obama's ability to take a punch and do well in Indiana," he said, referring to the controversy over Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and other difficulties Obama faced.

Larsen, who had acknowledged last month that he was tired of being "spun" by representatives of both Democratic campaigns, joked that Obama followed his advice to "go out and win delegates" in primaries.

"It's becoming very clear to me that Sen. Obama is able to win states and win delegates," Larsen said.

Larsen said he met with the Illinois senator about an hour before making his announcement, although he had already made up his mind. He wanted to meet Obama in person and talk to him about Washington state, Larsen said.

The two talked about the upcoming governor's race as well as the $35 billion refueling tanker deal lost by Boeing in February. Much of the work would have been done in Everett.

Obama was "very sympathetic" about the tanker, Larsen said, noting that Boeing's corporate headquarters are in Chicago.

Larsen also said that if Obama, a skilled basketball player, becomes president, "there's a short list of members of Congress who can go up and down the basketball court, and he should call me."

Larsen joins at least four other Washington "superdelegates" who have endorsed Obama: Gov. Chris Gregoire; Reps. Adam Smith and Brian Baird, his state chairman; and Pat Notter, a member of the Democratic National Committee.

Clinton has the support of five of the state's superdelegates, including Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Reps. Norm Dicks and Jay Inslee, and King County Executive Ron Sims.

Rep. Jim McDermott remains uncommitted, as does former House Speaker Tom Foley. State Democratic Chairman Dwight Pelz also is uncommitted.

Add AP Local headlines to