The Obama campaign today announced that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has committed his super-delegate vote to Barack Obama. 

Nagin says in a statement, "I know firsthand, we desperately need the leadership of someone committed to changing the system in Washington that can hold us back from moving forward.  For these reasons, I endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nominee."

A Nagin spokeswoman says the Mayor recently talked to both Obama and Hilary Clinton before making the decision.

Obama says, "I want to thank Mayor Nagin for his support. I share his commitment to renewing the great city of New Orleans, which is one of the great national challenges of our time."

The Obama campaign says Nagin is the 283rd superdelegate to endorse Obama, who is 148 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Here is the entire Nagin Statement as it appears on the Obama web site:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Senator Obama worked to help address the needs of our Gulf Coast communities.  As the Gulf Coast continues to rebuild, other cities have faced tragic disasters across this country. Therefore,  it is critical  that this country's infrastructure and emergency response systems are evaluated and rebuilt to sustain our cities and protect our families. What happened in Louisiana should never happen again.

I have learned firsthand that a unified constituency can make what seems impossible, possible. Senator Obama represents a new generation of leadership, one that can help heal the divisions of the past and unify this country so that together we can build a stronger future. 

Since the immediate days following the storm, I have been travelling to our nation's capitol to advocate for policies that aid our rebuilding effort. I know firsthand, we desperately need the leadership of someone committed to changing the system in Washington that can hold us back from moving forward.  For these reasons, I endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nominee.

Here is the Obama statement:

I want to thank Mayor Nagin for his support. I share his commitment to renewing the great city of New Orleans, which is one of the great national challenges of our time. I look forward to working with him and all New Orleanians to prepare for the storms that may come while advancing opportunity and prosperity for the people of this great American city.