Just a day after saying he wanted to wait and listen to his constituents in the 6th district, U.S. Representative Ben Chandler threw his support behind a presidential candidate Tuesday.

Chandler told a cheering, card waving crowd in Louisville, "I am most proud to to endorse Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States, a man of whom I can proudly say I know I've picked a winner."

Because of his super delegate status, Congressman Chandler has been getting a lot of pressure to choose between Obama and Clinton.
He says, "Now is not the time to be timid. Instead now is the time to be bold and support the candidate who has the ability to transform our future."

With the polls showing HIlary Clinton ahead in Kentucky, Chandler admits his endorsement carries some political risk. "There are not many politicians who want to go against the tide. I believe this is the right thing to do at the right time regardless of the risks."

The congressman is not the first member of the Chandler family to make a risky endorsement. Ben Chandler reminded everyone, "The year was 1960, and they said at the time that no Catholic could be elected president. My grandfather, Happy Chandler, had just completed his 2nd term as Kentucky Governor. He boldly endorsed a youthful and visionary John F. Kennedy who went on to become one of our most inspiring presidents."

When asked why the Obama campaign wanted the endorsement made in Louisville rather than in the Representative's home district, Chandler smiled and said, "I think it has something to do with the primary coming up next week in Indiana, right across the river."