Wayne Ford endorsement gives Obama legislative lead

With Sunday’s endorsement from Rep. Wayne Ford of Des Moines, Barack Obama takes the lead in endorsements from Iowa legislators with 20 to Hillary Clinton’s 19.

Clinton still leads the Iowa Senate with 10, while Joe Biden has the most House endorsements with 14.

Rumors had abounded that Ford was planning to endorse Clinton immediately after the Dec. 1 Brown and Black Forum in Des Moines, but on Dec. 4 Ford issued a non-endorsement, saying, “In my opinion, none of the candidates aggressively dealt with the problems in the urban communities.”  In Sunday’s Obama press release, Ford said Obama will be “a President who can successfully expand economic opportunity and access to affordable housing for every American — including those who live in urban communities.”

The release also noted that Ford’s endorsement gives Obama support from all four of Iowa’s African-American legislators.

In addition to Ford, Obama recently picked up support from Council Bluffs Rep. Paul Shomshor, while Biden added Reps. Eric Palmer of Oskaloosa and Dennis Cohoon of Burlington.

Only 14 of the 83 Democratic legislators remain uncommitted, including House Speaker Pat Murphy and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (whose family members are backing Clinton.)

Below the fold, the roll call.