Awhile back I chastised all the Democratic candidates other than Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel for ignoring the Native American vote, a vote that can be critical in the West and even has proven critical in states like Pennsylvania, where efforts by Native American groups helped flip the State legislature from Repub to Dem.

Seems Barack Obama has done a lot to make up for past neglect. The Native American Times, impressed with outreach from his campaign, has endorsed Barack Obama for President:

US Senator Barack Obama is the choice of the Native American Times to become the next president of the United States. This choice made before the all important super Tuesday election to get as many Native Americans to the polls as possible to push Obama to victory. This is not an anti-Hillary vote but a decision based on what is best for Native Americans...

Obama has started to aggressively reach out to Native Americans in word and deed. In his words he has put together a policy which truly addresses Native problems. In his deeds he has actually gone to Indian reservations to seek our votes. He is also the co-sponsor of the all important Indian Health Care Improvement Act. And he continues to seek the Native vote...

According to his advisors on Indian issues, he will address the nagging problem of criminal jurisdiction on Indian land. From runaway meth use to domestic violence to murder the problems on Indian land should be the providence of Indian governments where they are able. It is a significant distinction because it is clear some in the federal government doesn�t believe Indian governments are legitimate or evolved enough to handle a more expansive role in criminal jurisdiction. It is part of the change this campaign has represented...

Perhaps more than anything, Obama inspires us to want and dream of more. Indian Country has been waiting for someone like Barack for a long time. Now is the time for positive change and now is the time to vote Barack Obama on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 for President of the United States. Native Americans can make history next week if we all pull together and get behind the man who actually wants our vote.

I like the fact that it is a rousing endorsement of Obama, and not a condemnation of Hillary. I think, in many ways, the last paragraph catches my reasons for endorsing Obama:

"Perhaps more than anything, Obama inspires us to want and dream of more."