Jesse Jackson endorses Barack Obama

Jesse Jackson gave the Obama campaign a big boost in its efforts to woo African American voters when he endorsed the senator in a telephone interview with the Associated Press on Thursday.

The media has frequently asked whether Barack Obama is "black enough" and whether he has any major support among African Americans, a very important voting segment in Democratic primary elections.

Jackson himself won South Carolina when he ran for the Democratic nomination in 1988 and won a total of 16 primaries in his two presidential bids.

In response to Jackson's endorsement Obama said: "This campaign has been about giving hope since Day One and I am proud to have the support of my friend Jesse Jackson. It is because people like Jesse ran that I have this opportunity to run for president today."