WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/07/08) - State legislators from all corners of Wisconsin are rallying around Senator Barack Obama in the run up to Wisconsin’s presidential primary election on Tuesday, February 19th. Building on the growing momentum of the campaign and yesterday’s launch of a significant statewide TV and radio campaign in the state, 16 Wisconsin legislators have announced their endorsement of Senator Obama. The latest to join Governor Jim Doyle and others in the state who are endorsing Obama for President represent northern, southern, eastern and western areas of Wisconsin.

“Barack Obama is a unique and powerful candidate,” said State Senator Bob Jauch. “He inspires us to believe in ourselves; to realize that we can make a difference."

"He has the integrity, the intelligence, the dedication and the inspiration necessary to restore the confidence of the world in the United States, and to restore our faith in Government and in ourselves," Jauch pointed out.

“And now, this historic campaign is continuing to build momentum toward the Democratic nomination," Jauch continued.

"In an exceedingly tight race, Wisconsin -- which is a stand alone primary and a bellwether state -- is poised to play a deciding role in the selection of the next President of the United States,” State Senator Jauch said.

State legislators cited Senator Obama’s commitment to bringing America the change people can believe in and standing up to special interests on behalf of middle class families.

Legislators endorsing Senator Obama today (February 7th) are:

- State Representative Spencer Black – Madison
- State Representative Pedro Colon – Milwaukee
- State Representative Jason Fields – Milwaukee
- State Representative Tamara Grigsby – Milwaukee
- State Representative Steve Hilgenberg – Dodgeville
- State Representative Gordon Hintz – Oshkosh
- State Senator Bob Jauch – Northwest Wisconsin
- State Representative Cory Mason – Racine
- State Representative Joseph Parisi – Madison
- State Representative Donna Seidel – Wausau
- State Representative Mike Sheridan – Janesville
- State Representative Christine Sinicki – Milwaukee
- State Representative Tony Staskunas – South Milwaukee
- State Representative Barbara Toles – Milwaukee
- State Representative Annette “Polly” Williams – Milwaukee
- State Representative Josh Zepnick – Milwaukee

The Wisconsin Presidential Primary will be held Tuesday, February 19th. At this point in the primary process, it appears that the vote in Wisconsin will mean a great deal to the delegate count being tallied up by Obama, and his opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton.

The two Democrats who are hopeful presidential candidates are neck to neck in delegates gained from their performance so far in the primaries already held, including Super Tuesday, just concluded. Wisconsin could make one of the two the easy leader in the continuing sprint to the finish line.