Barack's my guy, Tyrone says

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had a pretty good day in Ohio Friday, with a Columbus fundraiser where Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman endorsed his candidacy.

As an added bonus, State Rep. Tyrone Yates, the Cincinnati Democrat who chairs the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, came out for Obama Friday, too.


Yates, a deliberative fellow, took his time watching and listening to the candidates and finally came to the conclusion that Obama was the candidate who represents his party's future. He spent a good deal of time examining Obama's record as an Illinois state legislator, coming to the conclusion that Obama is "a prodigious legislator and skilled operator," not to mention "smart as can be."


But Obama's early and consistent opposition to the war in Iraq, Yates said, is what finally tipped him to Obama over Hillary Clinton, who voted to authorize the use of military force in Iraq.


Yates' endorsement puts him in the same camp as one of his fellow African-American legislators from Cincinnati, State Sen. Eric Kearney, who has helped raised money for Obama here.


The Obama campaign was crowing about both Coleman and Yates Friday, but Yates made it clear that he was speaking for himself and not the caucus of African-American legislators he leads.


"I'd say the caucus itself is probably divided right down the middle between Obama and Sen. Clinton,'' Yates said. "She has some strong supporters in the caucus, too."