Two Mich. congressmen endorse Clinton - Yahoo! News

Two Mich. congressmen endorse Clinton - Yahoo! News: "Two Mich. congressmen endorse Clinton" By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer LANSING, Mich. - Hillary Rodham Clinton picked up endorsements Wednesday from two veteran Michigan congressmen, adding to her cache of potential superdelegates should Michigan and Florida prevail in their effort to be counted at the Democratic National Convention in August. Democrats John Dingell and Dale Kildee said Clinton has the experience and skills to become president. The lawmakers were uncommitted in Michigan's primary last month. Dingell, first elected in 1955, is longest serving member of either party in the House. As chairman of the House Energy and Committee, he was a key ally of the former first lady in her unsuccessful 1994 effort to pass health care reform legislation. In making his endorsement, Dingell said he's impressed by the energy and enthusiasm Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has brought to the Democratic nomination contest. But he said Clinton has the best understanding of health care and manufacturing issues. "I choose the candidate who I believe will stand up for Michigan's working families, whose keen intellect and strong convictions will make her an ally to our struggling state, and whose will and determination will make her a leader who will move our nation forward," Dingell said in a release. Kildee said he has worked with Clinton on education issues and believes the New York senator will bring about real change in the country. Although Michigan has been stripped of its convention delegates for violating party rules by moving up its primary to Jan. 15, state party officials expect Michigan's delegates eventually to be seated. Clinton a week and a half ago said she planned to ask her convention delegates to support seating the delegations from Michigan and Florida, which also was stripped of its delegates. Obama has not said if he will do the same. Superdelegates are members of Congress, governors and other party leaders who are not selected in primaries and caucuses, and who are also free to change their minds. They join five other Michigan superdelegates who already have committed to Clinton: Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Lt. Gov. John Cherry, Democratic National Committee member Joel Ferguson, Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Sander Levin.