D.C.’s Fenty endorses Obama

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) received the endorsement of Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty Tuesday.

“I believe a new era of hope is upon us — in both the District of Columbia and the entire nation,” said Fenty, a Democrat. “Barack Obama is the candidate that can reach across party lines and inspire pride in our government again.”

{mosads}Today’s announcement put to rest rumors that he was waiting to endorse any candidate before an announcement from Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, as to whether or not he would make a bid for the presidency. Fenty has modeled many of his initiatives after Bloomberg’s successful programs.

Obama may have struck a chord, however, with Fenty, who is the youngest mayor in the District’s history and also African-American.

“Last fall, Mayor Fenty brought a new generation of leadership to Washington by knocking on every door and practicing the kind of grassroots, bottom-up politics that can bring about real change,” Obama said. “That’s what we’re trying to do in this campaign, and I’m honored that he’s joining us in that effort.”

Fenty will chair Obama’s D.C. campaign and said the senator supports an issue that is high on the capital’s agenda.

“We are the only capital of a democracy in the world without a vote in the national legislature,” Fenty said, referring to Washington’s lack of a voting member in Congress. “Senator Obama has committed to empower those who have been locked out of our political process for far too long, and his commitment to helping Washington obtain full representation in Congress is particularly important to our residents.”