ABC News' Jennifer Parker Reports: A longtime spiritual confidante of President George W. Bush is backing Sen. Barack Obama in the '08 race. Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of Winsor Village United Methodist Church in Texas, plans to campaign for Obama, and says the Illinois senator may even pay a visit to his 15,000 -member church.
Caldwell, a highly influential black pastor in Texas, advocates taking "sanctuary" to the streets.The endorsement comes as Obama is engaged in a pitched primary battle in South Carolina, where black voters make up about half of the state's registered Democrats.
He told the Houston Chronicle's Ruth Rendon that he's endorsing Obama because of the senator's "character, confidence and courage."
The pastor said he called President Bush to tell him about his decision and Bush was "okay" with it, reports the Houston Chronicle.
In an interview posted to the spiritual website Beliefnet.com, Caldwell said he has prayed with Bush over the phone several times, and believes the president is comfortable with him because both are "known as straight-shooting CEO-types who don't get tangles up in a lot of introspection."
Caldwell introduced Bush at the 2000 Republican nomination and gave the benediction at both of Bush's inaugurations.
He said Obama "would do a wonderful job to bring people together to pursue a common vision we all have," reports the Chronicle.
Author: Political Radar
