Former Senator and 1984 presidential candidate Gary Hart has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama.

“He is in a unique position to end race as a factor in American politics. He represents a new generation of leadership, and he puts an entirely new face on American foreign policy.”

The following is an e-mail sent by the Obama campaign from John Kerry announcing his endorsement:

Martin Luther King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” So I’m choosing this time to share an important decision I’ve made, one I believe is right for this country.

The JohnKerry.com community has been very important to me and very important to the Democratic resurgence over the last couple of years, so I wanted to let all of you know my decision before I confirm it with anyone else. I want to share with you my conviction that in a field of fine Democratic candidates, the next President of the United States can be, should be, and will be Barack Obama. Each of our candidates would make a fine President, and we are blessed with a strong field. But for this moment, at this time in our nation’s history, Barack Obama is the right choice.

Please join me in supporting Barack Obama’s candidacy.

I’m proud to have helped introduce Barack to our nation when I asked him to speak to our national convention, and there Barack’s words and vision burst out. On that day he reminded Americans that our “true genius is faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles.” And with his leadership we can build simple dreams, and we can turn millions of small miracles into real change for our country.

At this particular moment, with our country faced with great challenges in our economy, in our environment, and in our foreign policy, and with our politics torn by division, Barack Obama can bring transformation to our country. With Barack, we can build a new majority of Americans from all regions who can turn the page on the politics of Karl Rove and begin a new politics, one worthy of our nation’s history and promise. We can bring millions of disaffected people – young and old – to the great task of governing and making a difference, child to child, community to community.

Please click here to give what you can to Barack Obama’s campaign for President and help build this future for our country.

The moment is now, and the candidate for this moment is Barack Obama. Like him, I also lived abroad as a young man, and I share with him a healthy respect for the advantage of knowing other cultures and countries, not from a book or a briefing, but by personal experience, by gut, by instinct. He knows the issues from the deep study of a legislator, and he knows them from a life lived outside of Washington. His is the wisdom of real-world experience combined with the intellect of a man who has thought deeply about the challenges we face.

History has given us this moment. But we need to decide what to do with it. I believe, with this moment, we should make Barack Obama President of the United States.

Please join me in supporting his campaign.

Thank you,
John Kerry

According to the Associated Press Senator John Kerry, the 2004 nominee for the Democratic party, has endorsed Senator Barack Obama.

Waiting for link. Drudge has the story, as does MSNBC.

Update 9:37: Kerry & Obama will appear together in Charleston South Carolina in about an hour (11 AM EST) to make the announcement.

Update 9:40: Kerry will say Obama is the “Best to unite the country and has the potential for transformative change”.

Update: Barack Obama has won the support of the 60,000-member Culinary Workers Union in Nevada

Culinary Workers Local 226, Nevada’s largest and most politically active union has yet to make its endorsement in the Democratic Race. NBC’s Tim Russert had asserted on the Today Show that the union was going to come out for Barack Obama, but with Hillary Clinton’s upset in New Hampshire the Politico is reporting the decision hasn’t yet been made.

The union represents from 60,000 casino and hotel workers.

Meanwhile Ben Smith at the Politico reports that the SEIU union in Nevada has come out for Barack Obama. It only has a quarter of the members of the Culinary union.

The Politico is reporting that barring a surprise showing today in Iowa former Senator Fred Thompson will drop out and give his support to Senator John McCain.

Iowa – Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.

Thompson’s campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.

However on two morning shows today Thompson denied the report:

CNN: Denied story about possibly dropping out, backing McCain. “I’ve never said that, I’ve never implied that, in public or in private.” Talked oil prices, CIA tapes. Repeated that having too much “personal ambition” is a danger for candidates.

Fox: Again denied story about dropping out, saying it was probably planted by rival campaign. “There is no such Thompson adviser. It is not something I have thought about or discussed with anybody.” Maintained he’s doing well in Iowa, said he didn’t get in the race late, others got in early. “We’ll see whether being in everyone’s face for two years and spending $100 million is necessary.”