This just in: Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat and chairman of the Judiciary Committee endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Mr. Leahy said he was not courted by any of the campaigns — "I think they all knew this was a decision I would make on my own" — but talked with his family about it before making his decision.

"I knew it would be very easy to not make a decision until after the Vermont Primary but by then we would probably already know who the nominee would be. That is not who I am. That is not how I respond," Mr. Leahy said.

"I knew who I wanted and the only honest thing to do was to make my choice known."

He said Mr. Obama is the best person to reintroduce the United States to the rest of the world and to reintroduce the United States to itself. He said Mr. Obama was the best person to lead out of the candidates but added that his endorsement was not a rejection of them.

He is the fourth Senator to back Mr. Obama in recent weeks. And as the contest moves forward many in the Democratic establishment are supporting Mr. Obama.

Just yesterday Rep. Albert R. Wynn un-endorsed former Sen. John Edwards and endorsed Mr. Obama.

-- Brian DeBose, national political reporter, The Washington Times