This morning Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) announced his endorsement of Barack Obama. He pointed out that Obama delivers a message that transcends politics.

“Senator Barack Obama has captured the imagination of Americans in a way we’ve not seen for decades. He’s inspired millions of young people to register to vote and join the ranks of our Democratic Party, he’s consistently opposed the war, he advocates universal health care, and he delivers a message that transcends party politics at the same time,” Stark said.

In reply, Obama said of Stark, “Congressman Pete Stark has been a powerful voice for the people of California for decades, and I am proud to accept his support today. He and I share a common goal of making universal health care a reality so every man, woman and child in this country has affordable, quality health care coverage they can count on. He has spoken out powerfully on the issues that matter in the lives of working families, like ending the war in Iraq, advocating for all of our children and protecting social security for our seniors.”

Obama is now only 120.5 delegates away from clinching the Democratic nomination. I don’t think it can be pointed out enough that endorsements of establishment Democrats such as Stark, were supposed to be in the bag for Hillary Clinton.

Obama literally took this nomination away from her, and forced the party leadership to come along with him by building his popularity from the ground up. Obama isn’t an establishment figure like Al Gore or John Kerry.

He is someone who rank and file Democrats rallied around, but we all know if left to their own devices, the party leadership would have picked Clinton, and suffered another November defeat.

Read the full endorsement here