Jay Parmley Endorses Barack Obama

Oklahoma Democratic superdelegate Jay Parmley tonight endorsed Barack Obama.

Parmley, the former Oklahoma Democratic Party chairman who now works for the Democratic National Committee, was one of four undeclared superdelegates from the state.

In a statement emailed to The McCarville Report Online, Parmley wrote, "The race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination has been historic. We have had two superbly qualified candidates, unprecedented numbers of newly registered voters and across the board near-record to record turnouts in primaries and caucuses. As an automatic delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, it was always my hope that Democratic voters across America whose votes determine the proportional make up of the pledged delegates to the DNC Convention would select the nominee of our Party. I believe they have done so, even if by the narrowest of margins.

"I will cast my vote at the DNC Convention for Senator Barack Obama.

"Voters in my own home state of Oklahoma chose differently, a fact I weighed heavily as the nomination process unfolded. I for some time have had a deep personal respect for Senator Clinton and that respect continues. However, as an at-large member of the DNC and automatic delegate, I have a greater duty to help unite our party as we head into the November elections. Senator Obama has brought thousands of new people into the political process and his campaign and election will restore people’s confidence in their government.

"Our task as a party is great. Our country is in crisis. Voters have a clear choice in November. Will we end the war in Iraq, fix our ailing economy, and provide much needed quality healthcare to all our citizens? These questions can only be answered affirmatively by electing a Democratic President. The fight for the Democratic nomination has been intense and now comes to a close. Our goal as Democrats is victory in November and that can only be accomplished if we come together in support of Senator Obama."

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