American Hero John Glenn to Endorse Hillary Clinton

By Joe Hallett

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York will pick up an endorsement Tuesday from a national hero and Ohio icon — John Glenn.

The former Ohio senator will endorse Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Westin Hotel Downtown. Glenn will be joined by Gov. Ted Strickland, who already has endorsed Clinton.

Glenn, 86, served in the U.S. Senate from 1974-98. On Feb. 20, 1962, he became the first American to orbit Earth. On Oct. 29, 1998, Glenn returned to space, at 77, the oldest person to orbit Earth, as a senator joining six astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery.

Strickland said today that he considers two key March 4 voting states — Ohio and Texas — firewalls for Clinton against the juggernaut by her Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. If Clinton fails to carry Ohio, Strickland said, it will be difficult for her to win the nomination.

Glenn will join Strickland, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Cleveland as the most prominent supporters of Clinton. So far, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has not endorsed in the race.