Maxine Waters switches to Obama; Kilpatrick endorses Obama

Three black members of Congress have endorsed Barack Obama today, moving with lightning speed to line up with the man who will tonight become the Democratic nominee. Rep. Maxine Waters, a Hillary Clinton supporter, announced today that she is switching her vote to Barack Obama. And Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan has also endorsed Obama.

The news comes just as Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, an uncommitted superdelegate and the highest ranking African American in Congress, announced his support for Obama Tuesday morning on NBC's "Today" show. 

"Senator Hillary Clinton has run a superb campaign and has proven to be a hard worker while gaining the support of many key constituencies that will be essential for Democratic success in November," Rep. Waters said in a statement. "Despite that, Senator Obama's delegate numbers more than describe the enthusiasm for his candidacy and I believe that by the end of the day, he will have the necessary numbers to become the Democratic Party nominee for President," she said.

"We are at a very important time for our nation today and we must unite together to win in November," said Rep. Kilpatrick. "I am proud to announce my support for Barack Obama," she said.

But Rep. Alcee Hastings, of Florida, said that he will be boycotting the Democratic Convention in August. Hastings expressed frustration over his party's decision on seating delegates from Florida. "Florida Democrats have been serially abused and the DNC is the latest of offenders," he said in a statement. "The insiders who actively sought to disillusion and disenfranchise the more than 1.75 million Florida Democrats who voted on January 29 give new meaning to collective arrogance," Hastings said.

"As a matter of protest, I do not intend to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver," Hasting added.

Both Waters and Hastings were the subject of a political action campaign sponsored by a group called Color of Change, which had called on members of the Congressional Black Caucus to follow the will of their constituents instead of voting independently at the Democratic Convention this summer in Denver.