Obama conference call: “the West is ripe for his candidacy”

The Obama campaign held a conference call with former Colorado Governor and Democratic National Committee Chair Roy Romer to announce Romer’s endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) presidential campaign. Romer said he will cast his vote at the Democratic National Convention for Obama as the democratic nominee for president.

Romer said this had been a very vigorous campaign, and that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) has been a strong opponent, but that he believes the math is controlling and that the race is over. He said it is time for the party to unify, get beyond the primary season, and get working on the general election.

Romer said it is up to Clinton to make the decision about staying in the race, and that knowing facts and information, such as where superdelegates stand, will help her make that decision. He said she is a strong asset to the party, and that this campaign was helpful for the Democratic Party because it got out new votes, but that it is time to end it and direct the focus to the general election.

Romer said Obama offers strong leadership on hope and change, and that the West is “ripe for his candidacy.” In the beginning of the campaign he had known Clinton better than Obama, but said that as he watched the campaign unfold he became convinced that Obama was more “elect-able.” He said Obama has the best possibility of winning in November and leading the country in an effective way.

Romer also said the Democratic Party needs to make decisions on delegates for Michigan and Florida. He said a compromise needs to be made that enforces following the rules for primaries but allows the states to be seated.