On The HUSTINGS

By Staff Reporter of the Sun | January 28, 2008

SENATOR KENNEDY TO ENDORSE OBAMA

Senator Obama is expected to pick up the highly coveted endorsement of Senator Kennedy today in Washington D.C., giving him not only the backing of one of the Democratic Party's most respected senior statesmen, but also a key link to the legacy of President Kennedy. The endorsement, which was reported by several news organizations yesterday, comes a day after Mr. Obama received the support of the late president's daughter, Caroline Kennedy. In an op-ed in the New York Times Sunday, Ms. Kennedy wrote: "I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans." The move was a blow to Senator Clinton, whose campaign responded late yesterday with a statement from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a daughter of Robert F. Kennedy. "I respect Caroline and Teddy's decision but I have made a different choice," she said, noting that two other children of the slain attorney general have endorsed Mrs. Clinton.

OBAMA VOWS TO RETURN ALL FUNDS TIED TO INDICTED DEVELOPER

Senator Obama is promising to return all campaign donations linked to a Chicago developer facing trial on federal fraud charges, Antoin Rezko. "What we've done is we've traced any funds that we know of that we think were connected to him, and if there are other funds that were connected to him that we're not aware of, then we will certainly return them. It's in our interest to do so," Mr. Obama said yesterday on ABC's "This Week."

At a debate last week, Senator Clinton accused Mr. Obama of having represented Mr. Rezko "in his slum landlord business." The Illinois senator said he did only a few hours of legal work for joint projects Mr. Rezko had with nonprofit groups.

Mr. Obama's presidential and senate campaigns have already given to charity about $85,000 raised or donated by the embattled developer, but the Los Angeles Times reported last week that more that $200,000 in donations have ties to Mr. Rezko.

A spokesman for Mr. Obama, Bill Burton, said the campaign hoped to complete its review in the next few days. He also linked the issue to a pledge the National Archives has made to release Mrs. Clinton's White House schedules by the end of January.

"We are constantly reviewing donations and a more fulsome look at them should be done by the time they release the additional library records they've said they would by the end of the month," Mr. Burton said.

CLINTON TO APPEAR IN FLA. AFTER POLLS CLOSE TUESDAY

Senator Clinton will finally campaign in Florida — after the polls have closed tomorrow. Mrs. Clinton said yesterday she would address supporters in the Sunshine State while keeping her pledge not to officially campaign there because it violated Democratic Party rules by scheduling an early primary. The former first lady has tried mightily to increase the importance of Florida — where she has consistently led in the polls — even though the state has been stripped of delegates to the Democratic nominating convention this summer. She has said she would try to seat the delegates if she wins the nomination, and in the meantime she is hoping for a momentum boost heading into February 5 after the 28-point drubbing she suffered at the hands of Senator Obama in South Carolina.

ENDORSEMENT WATCH

With all eyes on Florida in the Republican presidential race, Senator McCain of Arizona has picked up the endorsements of two of the states most popular and influential Republicans, Governor Crist and Senator Martinez. Mitt Romney announced an endorsement from a diplomat, Elizabeth Cheney, who is also one of Vice President Cheney's daughters.