Obama names Hodes national co-chair

Barack Obama named New Hampshire Rep. Paul Hodes as one of his national campaign co-chairs as Hodes announced his endorsement of Obama.

The two appeared together in Concord, New Hamphire today. Hodes said of his endorsement:

"Barack and I share an optimistic vision for this country and we share the belief that change is possible when people come together. Campaigning across New Hampshire this fall, people told me that they believe this country can be great again—but they know that we need a new kind of politics if we’re going to make progress on the issues that confront us around the world. In Barack Obama, we have a leader who will turn the page on our narrow-minded foreign policy, a leader who will end the war in Iraq and who realizes, just like JFK and Ronald Reagan did, that being a strong nation means having the strength to talk to our enemies."

Hodes' endorsement is a major break for the Obama campaign in the first primary state of New Hampshire.