Barack (Obama) & Bruce (Springsteen): Blood Brothers
Bruce Springsteen hopes Barack Obama can lead America to the Promised Land.
And Hillary Clinton? She's on the receiving end of a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.
Yep, crank up the references. The Boss came out today for Obama. Here's the announcement from the rock icon:
Dear Friends and Fans:
Like most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.
He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."
At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams of My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.
After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.
Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President.
Springsteen, you might recall, came out strong for John Kerry in 2004, even allowing him to use a song, "No Surrender," as a campaign theme. But until today, he's been a Cautious Man ...
as the epic Democratic battle swriled from state to state.
A quick check of the Boss' touring schedule shows he won't be performing in the Badlands of Pennslyvania before the April 22 primary, although he's always been popular in the state, hailing from next-door New Jersey.
But he will be appearing in two shows in North Carolina, in Charlotte on April 27 and Greensboro on the 28, before that state's May 6 primary. He may use the occasion to give fans some Reason to Believe.
So, will this be enough to propel Obama to that Mansion on the Hill? Does Clinton now face a Long Walk Home? We invite you to choose the Springsteen song that best epitomizes the two warring candidates.
Oh, and the Republican nominee? That's easy: Adam Raised McCain.
-- James Oliphant
James Oliphant writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau.
AP photo by Peter Kramer
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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Obviously, for Senator Clinton -
"Born to Run"
(You go, girl!)
Posted by: Pat | April 16, 2008 at 09:36 AM
It would carry a lot more weight with me if my next door neighbor publicly endorsed Barack Obama. I have to laugh when these full of themselves celebrities make their endorsements, based upon their idealistic view of America looking down from an ivory tower. Bruce, I love your music, but keep your politics to yourself. You are out of your league. My real concern, like many other Americans, is when and where Paris Hilton will announce her endoresement!
Posted by: Rattlesnake Bob | April 16, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Is this a joke? How much was he paid? This newspaper is prejudice. LIE LlIE LIE. Your comments about polls are LIES...anyone can say anything and it doesn't make it true.
Hillary is leading in all the states by double digit margins!!!!!!!!! POLLS LIE. His supporters lie.
Posted by: Lou | April 16, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Wrong pick or kiss of death ? His batting average is about
as good as gov. Judas's who endorsed the same looser
as the boss in 2004.Springsteen is a compulsive flip flopper endorser of the extreme-left lunatic fringe.He was
true to himself in this endorsement, however conservative
democrats and independants will feel comforted in voting
Hillary or MCCain,should Obama be nominated.
Posted by: Girl with the bushy armpits | April 16, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Springsteen is such a tool.
Posted by: BobT | April 17, 2008 at 09:01 PM
totally dug springsteen's music for 30 years and even met him backstage once in Worcester.....But I have to say I no longer know the man. I never pull out the old cd's anymore. He has alienated his base and he doesn't even know it. Wake up, Brucie boy and get back to your roots..If you think BO cares about the working class, I have a boarwalk I want to sell you in Jersey.
Posted by: eugenia tsantinis | October 02, 2008 at 01:34 PM