Breaking News: Maria Shriver endorses Barack Obama

In a dramatic moment at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, California First Lady Maria Shriver just strode out onto a stage that had already seen its share of celebrities -- Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder among them -- and announced that she was joining the Kennedy half of the family backing Barack Obama, reports our colleague Mark Z. Barabak, who is there.

More details will be posted shortly and in tomorrow's print edition, but Shriver reportedly was waiting backstage wavering over whether she should make her support public, and then finally strode out on stage. Her husband, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, earlier this week announced his endorsement for Sen. John McCain.

The Kennedy family has split over the two top Democratic contenders, with Ted Kennedy joined by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg -- daughter of his brother John F. Kennedy -- and his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, all going with Obama. Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, also went with the Illinois senator.

But Hillary Rodham Clinton picked up the support of three of Robert and Ethel's children -- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Kerry Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

UPDATE: Shriver told the crowded gym that she had not intended to be at the rally, and had come straight over after going horse riding with her daughter. She joked about her appearance -- riding clothes, sans makeup and without having her hair done -- as she added her pitch for Obama.

"If Barack Obama was a state he'd be California," Shriver said, drawing roars from the crowd. "I mean think about it: diverse, open, smart, independent, oppose tradition, innovative, inspiring, dreamer, leader."

And she touched on the (see more of the blog post below the jump)...

For those of you who missed the C-SPAN coverage, it's here:

themes of optimism and collective action that Obama has sought to build his campaign around.

"He's not about himself. He's about the power of us and what we can do if we come together," Shriver said. "He is about empowering women, African Americans, Latinos, old people, young people. He's about empowering all of us."

Shriver, a former network television journalist, also acknowledged some uncertainty over taking such a public stand. "Sometimes, when you follow your own truth and your own voice, it's scary," she said. "But that's all you can do."

Shriver was on stage with Schlossberg, Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Shriver said she made the decision this morning. "I wasn't on the schedule," she said, "and I thought to myself when I woke up this morning, I thought, there's no other place I should be than right here."

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[fromstmonica]

Yes We Can and California loves Obama!

[Jane Becker]

What counts is not the resumes of the endorsers but of the candidates themselves: http://thedamedomain.blogspot.com/2008/02/please-submit-your-resume.html

[Barbara]

I have seen many a political rally in my life but this one just astonished and moved me to tears.
Winfrey compelety demolished the idea that a woman should vote for another woman without thinking.
Michelle was stunning in her analysis and honesty of what is wrong with this nation.
And Caroline Kennedy was moving as well.
When Maria Shriver came out I just screamed! I was watching it live on CSpan and just whooped and hollered. It was amazing. I had been wondering where Maria stood. There is no doubt now. Loved it when she compared Obama to California.

[Lori]

Yoo Rah Rah Maria!

Each day I become more and more inspired by the integrity and message the Obama movement has created. Its not every election that I am moved to tears of joy, and inspiration. This is THE moment..... Let's make it happen...

Vote Obama 08

[Dion Jackson]

I` really admire ALLof these women.
To stand up, against all odds.
To go with their gut feelings and get involved, is refreshing and courageous.

Much Love.

Dion the Trainer

[rich]

Way to go Maria...That took alot of courage to endorse Obama & I applaud her for that...

Barack Obama is the only candiate running who can TRULY unite & not further divide this country.....Hillary Clinton is a fine politician but is too divisive, this coutry deserately needs its 44th. POTUS to be Barack Obama

[Marie]

Marie if your vote isn't based on endorsements, it shouldn't matter that the two you say she received today aren't mentioned. No one votes purely on endorsements, though, as both candidates have said they are good to have. I have a suspicion that had the endorsements been going the other way you would not have had an issue.

[Lee]

For those of you who still question Barack's substance (and can't seem to use Google) I offer the fact that he taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago. That school is one of the wonkiest on the planet - no lightweight would ever make it there.

Time to face the fact that Obama isn't perfect, but has elements of everything we need to lead our country out of the darkness. We all need to step up and make it happen - not just in the election, but afterwards, too. We are in this mess because we have been asleep and let idiots take over.

[james]

Toni,
Were you somehow on the stage with Michelle and Stevie. I was in the front row, and it was clear she did everything to keep them both from falling off the platform. She then had to lead a keynote speech in front of thousands. I don't know how often you give big speeches - if you have ever you might understand if she was a little off after a fall.

Michelle was amazing and she will be an awesome first lady. These folks are the American dream that we were all promised existed. Come on Toni get on board and stand for real change. Bill had his 8 years now it is time to move on.

[Robyn]

BILL RICHARDSON ENDORSED HILLARY TODAY! I heard this on NPR over one hour ago. Where is the story, LA Times?

[Heheh]

I have the feeling that there is QUITE the interesting discussion going over SOMEONE's dinner table tonight.

"Honey, how was your day?"
"Well, um...you know how I said I might be late after riding class........?"

[Rhonda]

Wow I watched the c-spann coverage of the rally. I was so excited, so fired up, I am getting ready right now to drive from Oakland to San Jose where Michelle is going to be tonight . I hope our Bay Area rally will be just as exciting and suprising as the LA rally.

Go Obama, I am fired up

[Marlene]

To have Caroline Kennedy be inspired like we were with her father - what a day!

[Denise Duncan]

Watched Michelle Obama on CSpan. Truly nasty frightening speech. The welfare state will be resurrected if Obama wins. And the embrace of the English tanslation of si se puede as a rallying cry means we can expect a larger invasion of illegal aliens. We continue to pay the price since the Reagan amnesty of the 1980s.

So Maria Shriver lives in a house divided with Gov Arnold in the McCain camp. Thought it interesting she wasn't wearing a wedding ring at the Obama rally.

The desire for change et al is lovely but ultimately unrealistic unfortunately. Ye we can elect a President with a passion for change but as long as the Congress and Senate are made of ther same elected bunch and their ilk in future elections, and the entrenched bueracracy of the federal govt are in place, it'll remain rhetoric not reality.

By the way, who do you think Mary Jo Kopeckne would endorse?

[not-a-lemming]

It is so amazing that people fail to understand politics of politics. The UCLA rally was not a benign gathering to simply promote Obama's candidacy, it was a clear political attempt to dig into Clinton's primary base of support: women. The Kennedys, I think, have ANOTHER motive. They want to protect their family as the only dynasty of DEMOCRATS. They would have lined up with ANY Democrat to thwart Hillary Clinton. My guess is they probably won't even vote.

As for all of the nasty digs against Clinton on this site, obviously posters do not realize she is not the enemy. THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE ENEMY.
You can be enthusiastic about your candidate without casting aspersions. Both Clinton and Obama will pick up delegates in California. Neither will make a clean sweep of the state

[Lina]

Obama only supports those who can help him win votes. Our small Tibetan community, perhaps one of the most disenfranchised in the world asked his organization as well as Hillary Clinton's organizations to support our cause. We heard NOTHING from his camp, but got a response immediately from Hillary's.

As they say, actions speak louder than words.

Look who comes out to support Obama: Talking heads - celebrities who speak pretty words written by writers, just like Obama himself.

Bill Clinton's foundation brought medical aid for HIV suffers in Africa. Oprah sets up an elite school for "handpicked" girls. Who has helped more people?

GO HILLARY!

[m rogers]

Maria truly is an "independent" woman. Okay, you've finally got my vote, my daughter made me watch this and I'm now "a woman for Obama". I'll see if I can get my mother on board. Wow, I see how this movement got started. View the video. I love my daughter and am just realizing that she has excellent judgement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62_ajoKkuHA

[Nathan]

Lauren Eisebaum,

The push polls are not coming from the Clinton camp, fool. Just because the LAT says so doesn't make it true (i.e. THE PUSH POLL STORY IS A LIE!)

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/3/193310/5243

[Sylvia S-H]

What an awesome day! To see so many yound people alive with political passion, hope and excitement. Let's remember--we vote with our hearts and soul for the leader we believe in for the primary elections, then we must come together again as a family and work hard for whomever the Democratic candidate is. Enough of attacking one another.
Sylvia

[stewart]

there came a time when I was in Viet Nam that my mother called Ted Kennedy to tell him how upset she was that I was at war. He took the call and soothed the concerns ofa mother.
Were my mom alive today, she would give great weight to Kennedy's aligned with Barak Obama and that is enough foir me.
Ill sign on.

[MK]

Clinton is the more experienced candidate, but she's not electable. We can't afford to have Republicans in for another 4 years - I'm for Obama.

[Dan Kalb]

The Shriver endorsement should carry some weight with Edwards supporters. After all, it was Shriver's father, Sargent Shriver, who was the architect and point person of the 'Great Society' anti-poverty programs of the 1960's. Many of these programs, such as Head Start, are fortunately still with us today.

[Frank]

MARLENE: Did you actually listen to Michelle's speech? I mean actually listen to the message and not let your cynicism distort your cognition? The mere fact that you say "The desire for change et al is lovely but ultimately unrealistic unfortunately" tells me that you have lost all faith in our government's ability to govern.

I was like you just a couple short weeks ago, but Barack's message helped me to finally realize that things can get better if we try. To not try is simply cowardice and weak, which are two things that America has never stood for. The reality is that it will remain rhetoric until people have the courage to believe that something can be done to improve our government and our country.

Successful people throughout history have known a secret that most people never discover. To believe is to make real. The people who have come to know this is a fact can't even explain why it is themselves. Nevertheless it has been proven countless times that if an individual or a group have the courage and strength to truly believe in the depths of their mind that they can accomplish something doors began to open and progress is made in an almost supernatural way.

DENISE DUNCAN: Your message speaks to divisive and angry spirit that the Clinton family brings out in people. A statement as ignorant and unfounded as "THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE ENEMY" is the reason we have such a big problem in this country. We can never hope to make any real progress if people insist on splitting the country into Democrat, Republican, and Independent groups. We are all Americans and that is the most important thing to remember. Each party is responsible for many good and bad policies. To categorically say that one group is 100% superior to another or that one is 100% evil is small-minded and patently false.

There are millions of good, hard-working and honest people who consider themselves "Republicans." If we ever hope to change their minds we have to be patient and understanding. They have come to their own conclusions based on thousands of independent events in their lives. In fact, Hillary Clinton started out her life as a Republican. She served as the president of her college's Young Republicans organization. However, certain important events in her life led her to change her mind, including the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam War, and the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.

People from different backgrounds, parties, religions, genders, and ethnic backgrounds support Barack because he has the courage to believe that we can change Washington. However, it will not come through singular actions by an inspiring President. It will require a change in mindset for the American people. It must start with you.

[omgiamgoingnuts]

She looked STONED!I really think she was. She actually congratulated the "women on the stage, the spouses of the candidates, and THEN the kicker...the candidates. WHAT?????? I had to almost wonder WHY was she really there? This is just another KENNEDY. So what?
HILLARY will win this on TUESDAY.

[jerry rubin]

For those who do not know, it was Maria Shriver - California's first lady, who got her husband to hire one of the Kennedy's sons to give direction to Arnold on how to expand the environmental (sustainable energy) strategy for California.