Fattah backs Obama as a great motivator

WASHINGTON - Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.) yesterday endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president.

The Philadelphia congressman, who also represents part of Montgomery County, praised Obama's support for high-quality education for children and his vow to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq.

"This is a transformational moment in the history of America," Fattah said in a statement. Obama "motivates ordinary Americans to accomplish extraordinary things."

Fattah joins fellow Philadelphia-area Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy in supporting Obama's candidacy. Reps. Allyson Schwartz and Joe Sestak have announced their support for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D., N.Y.).

- Steve Goldstein

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Magic Johnson doesn't trust rookies to win a basketball game, much less lead the nation.

"You don't want somebody in there that is young or a rookie at politics," Johnson said yesterday at a raucous rally in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We want somebody in there that knows what they're doing because this job is so huge."

Johnson, a former star with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, joined with former President Bill Clinton to promote the New York senator's campaign.

Implicit in Johnson's comments was the suggestion that Hillary Clinton had more experience than rivals Barack Obama, who has served in the U.S. Senate since January 2005, and John Edwards, who spent one term as a senator.

Johnson said he had been good friends with the Clintons since they were in the White House and gave him advice on how to bring economic development to neighborhoods across the country.

- AP