Clinton and Obama dueling with competing endorsements

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are announcing rival endorsements this morning, showcasing the two-way horse race that is most dangerous for the Edwards campaign if it gives the impression he is left out of the game. Especially threatening to John Edwards is that both Clinton and Obama announced union endorsements, which are supposed to be Edward's strong point:

• Obama started it off by announcing he was receiving the endorsement of the NY based Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, a 9000 member-strong union of jail workers. It should be said that this union seems to have an anti-Hillary streak, as it endorsed Rick Lazio in his campaign against Clinton in the 2000 Senate election. While small, this union si the first to endorse Obama.
  
• Clinton replied by rolling out the endorsement of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, a 100 000 member-strong union of masonry workers. Union president John Flynn declared, "Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver the chance America needs. After years of an administration that has turned its back on working families, we need a president whose priorities are our priorities." This is the 5th endorsement Clinton has received, making her the Democratic candidate with the highest number of unions supporting her.

Clinton and Obama also exchanged endorsements from political figures. Clinton gets points for the more high-profile supporter, and Obama gets points for having his be a key player in the Iowa caucuses:

• Gordon Fischer, a former Iowa state party chair, is now backing Obama. An equivaleent endorsement in any other state would be viewed as a very minor get, but the Iowa caucuses go for the candidate with the best organization and grassroots mobilization, so that an endorsement like Fisher's, who brings with him his network and connections, is a major structural advantage. Fisher based this laregely on an electability argument:

Like all Democrats I am desperate to win the White House, and I am absolutely convinced Sen. Obama is the candidate who has the best chance against any Republican in the field. "In order to win in a swing state, in a competitive state like Iowa, it's not enough to just get Democrats out. You can't sort of gin up your base. Sen. Obama is best positioned to bring along independents and even some Republicans.

• Clinton's endorsement is not a big surprise, but it is indicative of how likely her nomination appears to many. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, who stopped his presidential run earlier in the year, is now backing the NY Senator. Bayh is a very moderate Democrat, and his support is not necessarily a huge help with the Democratic base. However, it allows Clinton to argue that she will be competitive in red states like Indiana and that Democrats there are not afraid to be seen next to her. It will also give her another high-profile campaign surrogate, and secure the party establishment's support.

The Bayh endorsement also emphasizes that the veepstakes have already started on the Democratic side. After Clark's endorsement of Clinton last week and Vilsack's earlier in the year, it is becoming evident that the Democratic heavy-weights with vice-presidential ambitions feel that they can't afford not lining up against Clinton now. Bayh, Visack and Clark are all clearly eyeing the number 2 spot. Mark Warner's jumping in the Virginia Senate race means they have one less major competitor, but also that there is some space now for them to make a move. With this kind of pressure, look for other possible VP picks to soon jump on the Clinton bandwagon -- Will Jim Webb, for example?