New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has committed his super-delegate vote to Barack Obama. "I sat down and I talked to both candidates," Nagin told reporters. He said he decided to go with Obama "based upon his commitment to the recovery and his vision for America."

Nagin says that during repeat trips to Washington DC he personally saw "we desperately need the leadership of someone committed to changing the system in Washington." He says Obama is the candidate to do that.

Listen to Nagin talking to reporters:

Listen:

   

In a statement Obama said, "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 was the 283rd super-delegate to endorse Obama.

Here is the 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.