Congress's lone Iraq war vet backs Obama

Freshman US Representative Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, the only member of Congress to serve in the Iraq war, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. Murphy told reporters in a conference call this morning that his experience serving with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad showed him that America needed a new war strategy and foreign policy.

"He's absolutely our best chance to change the direction of our country," Murphy said.

Obama is scheduled to speak today at the VFW convention in Kansas City. Hillary Clinton and John McCain spoke there yesterday.

Two Obama pieces worth reading: This Associated Press story, in which Obama argues that he would encourage enough black voters to vote next year that he would put states like Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina in play for Democrats; and Obama's op-ed in The Miami Herald today calling for the removal of restrictions on Cuban-Americans who want to visit or send money to family in Cuba. (Find the Herald's coverage of Obama's position here.)