John Kerry Endorses Obama

John Kerry threw his support behind Barack Obama's candidacy today at a Charleston, South Carolina, rally, saying "Barack Obama can help our country turn the page." The Democratic standard-bearer said Obama is best suited to unite the country, and spark "a transformation, not just a transition."  In a dig at Hillary Clinton's claim that Obama offered "false hope," he said Americans "must not allow their hopes to be downsized."

The Kerry move is seen as a slap at John Edwards, his former running mate, who bested him in South Carolina's primary last time around. As he noted today, Kerry also gave Obama his first national stage, tapping him to give the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic  convention. The man who failed to hold Bush to one term had his own 2008 hopes dashed when he botched an Iraq joke over a year ago. (More John Kerry stories.)