Former Edwards campaign manager endorses Obama

David Bonior, a former Michigan congressman who managed John Edwards' campaign, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, saying he can fight for working people and take on Washington lobbyists.

Bonior pointed to Obama's background as a community organizer in Chicago.

"That kind of passion and that kind of experience and that kind of dedication to change is really a very important part of my support for Barack Obama today," Bonior said Thursday in a conference call with reporters.

Bonior said he waited to endorse because he wanted the Illinois senator to prove he could take on Republican nominee-in-waiting, John McCain, in the general election.

He said the last few weeks were some of Obama's toughest in the campaign. "He's shown great skill, great poise and great determination and spirit. And I was looking for that fight and spirit, and it was there."

Bonior, served in the House for 26 years, was minority whip — the second-ranking Democrat in the House — during most of former President Clinton's administration. A strong advocate of organized labor, Bonior led the opposition in the House to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Clinton supported.

Bonior didn't seek re-election in 2002, instead running for governor of Michigan. He lost in the Democratic primary to then-Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, who won the general election.