New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation’s only Latino governor, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, on Friday, calling him an “extraordinary American” and urging Democrats to unite behind his candidacy and move the nation beyond its racial and partisan divide.

Richardson dropped out of the race in January and said that Obama’s speech earlier this week prompted him to inform the senator that he was inspired and impressed.

“Senator Barack Obama addressed the issue of race with the eloquence and sincerity and decency and optimism we have come to expect of him,” Richardson said at a Portland rally. “He did not seek to evade tough issues or to soothe us with comforting half-truths. Rather, he inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility.”
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Sen. Barack Obama, along with his church and former pastor, have come under a media firestorm in recent weeks.

But one blog has set out to explain the truth about Jeremiah Wright and Trinity United Church of Christ.

The writer, who is a member of the church, writes that the purpose of the blog is to “give the world a perspective from the inside out.” You can also check out the Trinity YouTube channel which offers videos “about [the] church from [its] point of view.” Shout out to CL Reader Shannon for the info.

In less than a month, on April 22, the Pennsylvania Democratic primary will offer 188 total delegates. Analysts suggest Sen. Hillary Clinton will need a solid victory with a superdelegate strategy to justify her comeback victories in Texas and Ohio, while Obama will need to counter by winning the majority of the 158 pledged delegates at stake.

Pennsylvania is expected to play a large role in deciding the Democratic party’s presidential nominee as it offers the most delegates of any state remaining in the Democratic primaries. Earlier this week, Russell Simmons announced the “Hip-Hop Team Vote: Turn up the Vote” campaign at the University of Pennsylvania. According to the Voter Registration Administrator for Philadelphia County, it saw a 1.7 percent increase in Democratic Party registrations while all other parties – including the Republican Party – saw a 1.3 percent decrease in party registrations between Feb. 11 and March 17.

The latest Rasmussen Reports show Clinton leading Obama 51 percent to 38 percent.