Sheldon surprises, picks Obama; others back Clinton

BY BRAD SHANNON | THE OLYMPIAN • Published February 05, 2008

Democratic state Sen. Tim Sheldon is looking like a maverick again — this time joining the more progressive members of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Sheldon stunned some of his own colleagues today by saying he’s backing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling Obama the one candidate who can put the Iraq debacle behind the U.S. and move the country forward.

Sheldon had angered Democrats in 2004 by endorsing George Bush for president and identifying himself as leader of Democrats for Bush.

“Weird,” said Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, and a past critic of Sheldon’s alliances with Republicans.

“I think we’ve seen four years of failed policy in Washington, D.C. The economy has tanked. Washington is in gridlock. We’re spending an incredible amount of money on the war, and we’re not receiving the respect worldwide, from other countries, that we deserve,’’ Sheldon said, calling Obama “the only candidate who can bring Republicans, Independents and Democrats all together for a common purpose.’’ Sheldon made his comments after a news conference at the state Capitol where nearly 30 Democrats, including liberal Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, threw their support behind Obama.

Most of the state’s Democratic political establishment has gone with Hillary Clinton — an early war supporter. Her supporters include everyone from King County Executive Ron Sims to U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and ex-Gov. Gary Locke.

Clinton's campaign countered Obama’s announcement by releasing its list of 35 prominent Democrats who have joined the campaign — including Lt. Gov. Brad Owen of Shelton; Rep. Sam Hunt of Olympia, Sen. Karen Keiser of Des Moines, Sen. Margarita Prentice of Renton and former Supreme Court justice Faith Ireland. For more on the story, see The Olympian Tuesday.