JFK’s daughter: Obama ‘inspired me the way … my father inspired'

BROWNSVILLE — Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg knew she was in what many call “Clinton country” Tuesday, but she hoped to reshape the political landscape and open welcome terrain for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

The junior senator from Illinois is vying with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama currently leads Clinton in delegates, 1,372 to 1,274, according to the latest Associated Press count, but two key primary contests are coming up March 4 in Texas and Ohio. It takes 2,025 delegate votes to clinch the Democratic nomination. (Watch video of Kennedy's visit)

Kennedy addressed a standing-room-only crowd Tuesday at the Ringgold Civic Pavilion in Dean Porter Park as she sought to rally support for Obama.

“I’ve been told this is Clinton country,” she told the assembled crowd of community members and local officials. “I’m hoping we can turn that around this morning.”

Kennedy was introduced by former Brownsville mayor Blanca S. Vela, who described her as someone whom the world watched grow up.

The daughter of former President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier, Caroline Kennedy was 3 years old when her father was elected the 35th president of the United States. She was just 5 when he was killed in 1963.

“I admire Caroline because she feels the obligation to help people,” Vela said. “She feels the obligation to participate. She feels the obligation to stand for what is best for America, and it’s Obama.”

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey of 861 Texans who said they plan to vote in the primary shows Obama has erased Clinton’s once formidable advantage in the state and now leads 50 percent to 46 percent. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points, so the poll is effectively a dead heat. Many speculate the South Texas vote is crucial to either of them winning the Democratic nomination.

Kennedy said she is supporting Obama because she has found inspiring similarities between him and her father, who campaigned successfully in 1960 on a platform of “change.”

“I never met a candidate who inspired me the way people said my father inspired them,” she said. “I’m doing everything to get (Obama) elected the next president.”

Kennedy spoke about Obama’s plan for universal healthcare and providing college students with a $4,000 tax credit in exchange for community service. She also noted Obama was the only candidate on the Democratic ballot who opposed the Iraq war from the beginning.

Winter Texan Kaye Hunt remembered voting for President Kennedy as a younger woman and believes Obama is a similar kind of candidate.

He’s “a new face, articulate, intelligent, handsome — that always helps — and young,” the 77-year-old from South Dakota said.

Hunt believes Kennedy’s visit will have a positive influence on getting Brownsville residents to vote for Obama.

As Kennedy campaigned for Obama, state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, was busy campaigning for Clinton.

Lucio spoke about Clinton’s campaign with Rio Grande Valley veterans Tuesday morning at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2035. That same afternoon, he worked the phone bank at the local Clinton campaign headquarters.

Both Obama and Clinton have visited the Valley in the last two weeks, with Clinton making three stops in the area. Obama made one stop on Friday.

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The Fort Worth Star-Telegram contributed to this report.