Barack 2, Hillary 0. Bishop of GA. backs Obama

After months of lengthy phone calls and occasional not-so-subtle pressure from two of his party’s presidential contenders, Rep. Sanford Bishop, an Albany Democrat, announced Monday that he’ backing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the Democratic presidential primary.

Bishop, in a statement issued by the Obama campaign, said he picked Obama over Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York because “I believe Sen. Obama truly understands the needs of Georgians within the greater context of changing our nation for the better.”

Obama and Clinton have been in an intense fight for Georgia’s African American community. Both hope to harvest enough ATL cash and votes from the African American community that both believe could help tip the balance in the primary election.

Bishop is the second African American congressman from Georgia to back Obama. Rep. Hank Johnson of Dekalb County endorsed Obama earlier and is already helping him raise money in the Atlanta area, home to a huge share of African American Georgians.

Bishop and Johnson will serve as Obama’s state chairmen, Obama’s campaign said.

Two other African American congressmen - Rep. John Lewis and Rep. David Scott, both of Atlanta - have still not announced a choice between Obama and Clinton, though both have been eagerly courted by both camps.

Bishop first hinted at his preference for Obama a month ago when he was still be pressured by what he called “The Arkansas mafia” run by Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/09/10/barack_2_hillary_0_bishop_back.html