WATCH: Kennedy Passes Torch to Obama

First published at WashingtonTimes.com

As we put together coverage on Sen. Teddy Kennedy's death, I am reflecting on his tremendous impact on the 2008 campaign.

We're working on lots of stories to capture this moment in political history, and here's a first take on the Obama reaction:

President Barack Obama said Wednesday morning that Sen. Ted Kennedy, his friend, was a great leader involved in social justice and championing civil rights for five decades.

"An important chapter in our history has come to an end," Mr. Obama said in a statement issued as he vacationed on Martha's Vineyard in the Democratic senator's home state of Massachusetts.

"Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time," he said. "The Kennedy family has lost their patriarch, a tower of strength and support through good times and bad."

Read the full story here, and it will be updated throughout the day.

In pulling together notes for my story, I found these two videos I captured at the Kennedy endorsement speech on Jan. 28, 2008.

 

 

 

 

— Christina Bellantoni, White House correspondent, The Washington Times

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