Former presidential hopeful John Edwards endorses Obama at a Grand Rapids, Michigan event:

“The reason I am here tonight is that Democratic voters in America have made their choice and so have I.  There is one man who knows in his heart that it is time to tear down that wall and make one America, Barack Obama.”

 

"Join me in sending Barack Obama to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue..."

Edwards—son of a mill worker, with a Carolina drawl—lends big credibility with the white working class.  I am thinking the announcement was timed to short-circuit Clinton’s media boost after her West Virginia win, and to model the path of party unity for hand-wringing superdelegates.

More turncoat tales—on Wednesday Obama also won the endorsement of the NARAL Pro-Choice America, which has supported Clinton throughout her career. 

(It's funny to see two big endorsements on the same day—campaigns pace them out to amplify their impact in news coverage.  Most likely the Obama camp doubled up the announcements to overshadow the NARAL endorsement.  Winning over the pro-choice establishment is a necessary gate in the primary process, but NARAL's support will alienate the values voters Obama is trying so hard to court.) 

The pro-choice movement is a heavyweight in Democratic politics, both for its grassroots infrastructure and its fundraising power.  It now stands divided: NARAL’s declaration is being denounced by EMILY’s List, the twin leader of the movement (it's America's largest political action committee) and

and a longtime fundraiser for Clinton.  According to the AP:

EMILY's List founder Ellen Malcolm, a prominent Clinton backer, said it was "tremendously disrespectful" for NARAL "to not give her the courtesy to finish … the primary process" before backing Obama.