Rep. Murphy endorses Obama as Democratic nominee for president

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Freshman U.S. Rep. and Iraq war veteran Patrick Murphy is expected to endorse Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday.

Murphy, D-Pa., who served as a captain in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and received a Bronze Star for heroism in Iraq, is to throw his support behind Obama in a conference call Tuesday morning.

Murphy is writing his memoir with Adam Frankel, an author and speechwriter working for Obama.

Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, was scheduled to speak at a conference for Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City on Tuesday.

"U.S. Rep. Murphy's service to this country in Iraq and his tough, smart approach to the challenges facing us make him a fresh voice for change in Washington," Obama said in a statement released Tuesday.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20070821_ap_repmurphyendorsesobamaasdemocraticnomineeforpresident.html

Murphy has been a pretty good addition. He's been tough against the war, although I'm not sure what he's thinking about with his Blue Dog thing.

http://www.patrickmurphy.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=54

I did NOT see this coming. I love Murphy!

UPDATE: Announcing his endorsement in a conference call, Murphy called Obama "absolutely our best chance to change the direction of our country."

Obama took a shot at the administration by saying the United States "needed a civilian leadership just as smart and savvy as our troops on the ground."

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/obama_on_the_surge.php