In our story Saturday, I and my colleagues Ewen MacAskill and Elana Schor write of Idaho Democratic party chairman R. Keith Roark's decision to remain uncommitted so long.
The Democratic party chairman in Idaho, Keith Roark, admitted he had been worried by Obama's "nightmare weeks" in March and again last month, when he was engaged in a row over his former pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. But Obama's recovery in Tuesday's primaries had gone a long way towards allaying his fears. "I wouldn't say I'm necessarily leaning, but I'm getting much closer to making up my mind."
Today Roark gave Obama his nod. In a statement released by the campaign, Roark said:
After several months of careful consideration, I am announcing today that I will cast my vote this August at the Democratic National Convention for the next President of the United States, Senator Barrack Obama. I have not come quickly or easily to this decision. Democrats are blessed to have two outstanding candidates vying for our party's nomination at this defining moment in American history.
I have no doubt that Senator Obama will run the stronger race. The unprecedented enthusiasm Senator Obama has generated here in Idaho is unlike anything I have seen in the past 31 years of active political participation in this State. He has captured the imagination and mint fresh optimism of young voters from Couer d'Alene to Caldwell, from Murphy to Montpelier. I firmly believe that the critical process of rebuilding the Idaho Democratic Party will receive a once in a lifetime boost from Senator Obama's candidacy.
Obama won Idaho 79% to 17%.
