Maria Shriver In Surprise Obama Endorsement At Rally With Oprah In LA

In a dramatic moment at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, California First Lady Maria Shriver just strode out onto a stage that had already seen its share of celebrities -- Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder among them -- and announced that she was joining the Kennedy half of the family backing Barack Obama, reports our colleague Mark Z. Barabak, who is there.

More details will be posted shortly and in tomorrow's print edition, but Shriver reportedly was waiting backstage wavering over whether she should make her support public, and then finally strode out on stage. Her husband, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, earlier this week announced his endorsement for Sen. John McCain.

The Kennedy family has split over the two top Democratic contenders, with Ted Kennedy joined by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg -- daughter of his brother John F. Kennedy -- and his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, all going with Obama. Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, also went with the Illinois senator.

But Hillary Rodham Clinton picked up the support of three of Robert and Ethel's children -- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Kerry Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Keep reading here.

Read more HuffPost coverage of Super Tuesday here.

Comments

[Effymens]

Scandals&Skeletons, you should know about wierdos.It takes one to know one.

[georgeforchange]

I went to your link and read the dialog from the Democracy Now program with an open and unbiased mind. If I were to choose a candidate based solely on the information presented in this program. I would choose Barack Obama.

All voters in the Democratic parties nomination process should make their best efforts to obtain relevant facts from reliable sources and make their decision based on their own values, their own hopes and their own aspirations for themselves, their families, their communities, and their country in the context of the global community.

I hope that your mind is open and unbiased as you perform the research necessary to make your own informed decision.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Thank you Maria Shriver (MRS. ARNOLD)SCHWARZENNEGGER. BTW what's the governor's views on his opposition (Democrats) these days?

[clumberfeet]

I'm waiting for the surprise Mary Cheney endorsement of Mitt Romney.

[samandally]

Every Kenedy endorsement on earth will not make me vote for Obama
Hillary '08!

[scandals&skeletons]

ok, i am outta here. this is obviously the "mentally deranged & disabled for hillary"
thread.

[scandals&skeletons]

odin99
orinkinla
uglybetty
portiaelizabeth
os2guy

i understand wanting to post positive things for the candidate you support, however the five of you post things that are sometimes racist as well as demeaning to women. some of your posts seem a bit deranged in my opinion.
i don't like to lump 5 people into one category it seems stereotypical...but i have to infuse the old saying "if the shoe fits"

[daknc]

Have always been an admirer of the Kennedy families. Still am. But their Obama endorsements reek more of "got to get on this bandwagon and get some face time before it get's too far out of the station" than any statement of considered principle.

[Effymens]

Oprah is a coward and nobody cares what she says.The only reason she is endorsing Obama is because he is black and she knows it.That fat woman has no courage.When has she taken a stand on any controvertial issue?She supported George Bush and his war.She never once used her so called show to protest the war.The woman is a disgrace, always showing of her money.Look at the way that she looks at Obama. The woman is in love with Obama.Michelle watch your man because she will buy him just like she bought Gayle King away from her husband.

[fireW]

How strange it is that Shriver now decides that integrity in politics is important. She was silent when Arnie reprehensibly abused the recall provision to install himself in the Governor's mansion. She was silent when he tried time and again to force crap initiatives down the throats of California voters. She was silent when he gladly took millions of dollars from real estate developers while claiming he was so wealthy he didn't need lobbyist money.

Only now she finds her "courageous" voice to tell us Obama will come to save us all. What a pathetic joke . . .

[PortiaElizabeth]

The Chicago papers reported that while the poor in the run-down buildings owned by Tony Rezko had NO HEAT for a Chicago winter because he said he couldn't afford the repairs, that same Tony Rezko donated over $1000.00 to Obama's campaign. Hmmm couldn't afford repairs, eh?

[kennedy]

Caroline is Marias best friend and cousin. They have been close since they were kids. And Teddy leaned on Caroline and his son to endorse Obama. And Teddy wasn't even enough of a man to tell Senator Clinton to her face or even speak to her on the phone that he was not endorsing her. Sounds like the woman hating Teddy of old. He has always thought women had their place. (if your to young to remember this, check the history books) Screwing around and leaving women to fend for themselves in sinking cars is what he known for. And of course drinking his weight in alcohol. He has no respect even at his old age for women. He is one sad has been. He barely got elected last time in Mass. Hopefully next time they will kick this washed up man to the curb. I would love to be a fly on the wall and see Kennedys face when Hillary is sworn in as president. Priceless.

[mellene]

Now this is a historic photo with Michele, Carline and Maria(and Oprah). They're all the most influential women of our time.

[lumpyspun]

Let's not forget people...Hillary is awesome too!

She voted for the war in Iraq, then voted to fund it a bunch more. She also supports the Kyl-Liebermann Iran resolution and signed up for the Patriot Act. Oh yea, she wants to throw people in jail for burning the flag too.

[Politihal]

No surprise here...Maria and Oprah are the best of friends. Politically, Maria has always leaned left, like her uncle.

It would be nice if Obama ran his campaign on his own his merits, but then he has so few, which is why he needs all these endorsements.