RALEIGH, N.C. Former U.S. Senate candidate Ken Lewis on Wednesday endorsed campaign rival Elaine Marshall in her runoff for the Democratic nomination in North Carolina and chided the party's leadership for meddling in the process.
Lewis said he was particularly impressed with the conviction and courage shown by Marshall, North Carolina's secretary of state, even as Democratic officials in Washington put their support behind the other remaining candidate, Cal Cunningham. He praised Marshall for her ability to organize grass roots support and to appeal to a broad range of voters.
"I believe that to win this fall, Democrats will have to do both," Lewis said, as Marshall and her supporters stood nearby. "And Secretary Marshall provides us with a demonstrably stronger opportunity to do just that."
The endorsement provides a key push for Marshall, who didn't win enough votes earlier this month to oust Cunningham. They now face a June 22 runoff. Lewis finished third, carrying 17 percent of voters.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/19/1445064/apnewsbreak-source-lewis-to-endorse.html