Sen. Feinstein endorses Clinton

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) endorsed Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) for president Wednesday, saying the former first lady is best equipped to lead the country.

{mosads}“This is a very special moment for me because I have the opportunity to endorse the campaign of a U.S. senator who I believe will be the first female president of the United States,” Feinstein said. “Hillary Clinton, I believe, has the experience, the heart and the strength to be a great American president. There has been no election for president where change is as defined and necessary as this one. The question is who is best equipped to lead that change. I believe it is Hillary.”

Feinstein is the seventh senator to endorse Clinton’s bid for the presidency. No other Democrat has the endorsement of more than one senator. Clinton also has the backing of 49 representatives, putting her far ahead of the other Democratic front-runners, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.).

“Dianne and I have fought side by side in the Senate to expand stem cell research, to take care of our veterans when they return home and to stop the privatization of Social Security,” Clinton said. “Dianne is such a respected voice in the Senate. I’m honored to have her support as we work together to bring the war in Iraq to an end and deliver the change this country wants.”