Even before Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama trounced Senator Hillary Clinton in the 'Potomac Primaries' earlier this week, easily winning Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and assumed the front-runner status, Maryland House Majority Leader Kumar Barve -- considered the dean among Indian-American lawmakers -- endorsed Obama.
Barve, the longest-serving Indian-American elected official in the country and one of the most powerful and influential lawmakers in Maryland, who traveled with then first lady Hillary Clinton in 1997 to India as part of the US delegation to attend Mother Teresa's funeral and spend a lot of time with her, said that while "the Democratic Party has been fortunate to have several strong candidates running for president this year," he had decided to endorse Obama as he believed he "is the right choice for our country at a critical point in America's history."
"Some politicians earn respect through the force of ideas and policies," he said, "Others are natural leaders who inspire us to dream big. I believe Senator Obama can do both."
Barve said that Obama "has a remarkable gift for articulating a vision of a stronger, more just nation. Like few politicians in my lifetime, he inspires us to put aside our doubts and believe again in what we can do as a people."
"The type of leadership that Senator Obama can provide is sorely needed after so many have lost faith in the federal government's ability to address major issues. It's time we push past boundaries preventing us from adopting a sound environmental approach, providing health coverage to all our citizens and creating new economic opportunities," he argued.
"We also need a leader with a strong vision for honourably ending the war in Iraq," he added.
Barve reiterated that "Senator Obama is best suited to inspire and rally the nation to handle these important tasks. I also believe that his appeal reaches beyond party lines, and if nominated, he stands the best chance of uniting the country."
Thus, he urged all Indian-American Democrats to "join me in support of a remarkable American: Barack Obama."
Subodh Chandra, former Cleveland, Ohio law secretary, one of the leading second generation Indian-American community leaders supporting Obama, who has already co-hosted three fund-raisers on behalf of the Illinois Senator, said, "As the dean among Indian-American elected officials nationally, and as majority leader, Kumar Barve's judgment and experience in public service is deeply respected by many in Maryland and beyond."
"He has always stood up vocally for the Indian-American community even in tough times like the difficult post-9/11 climate. He has mentored countless Indian-Americans running for office. Thus, his endorsement of Senator Obama will likely resonate with many in Maryland and beyond because he understands what it takes to win and lead," Chandra said.
He said that Barve, despite apparently having spent considerable time with Clinton on the trip to India for Mother Teresa's funderal "and in short, knows Senator Clinton well," deciding to endorse Obama instead, was testament that he is convinced "Senator Obama would make a better general-election candidate and president."
Hrishi Karthikeyan, one of the original co-founders of the South Asians for Obama and an attorney like Chandra, said Barve's endorsement of Obama "is a powerful symbol both for our community and for this campaign."
"Like Senator Obama, Barve is a public fugure who is proudly shaped -- yet not confined -- by his minority background," Karthikeyan said, and added, "His leadership transcends racial, generational and party lines, and he is emblematic of the type of broad, inclusive politics that Senator Obama has waged in this campaign."
He said that "We admire leader Barve's service on behalf of the community and the people of Maryland and we are proud to stand with him in support of a bold and positive vision for our country's future."
