http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/...
Marc Ambinder is the first I saw to report it:
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) will deliver the Democratic response to the State of the Union on Monday.
And then Tuesday, she'll return to Kansas to endorse Barack Obama, numerous Democratic sources said.
The sources said that Sebelius decided some time ago that Obama was her candidate but decided to wait until after the State of the Union.
An Obama spokesperson declined to comment.
"Right now, the Governor's focus is on delivering her response to the President's State of the Union message Monday night," said Nicole Corcoran, communications director to Sebelius. "The Governor will have more to say about the presidential campaign after Monday."
Admittedly this has been expected, and I and many others have been speculating about a Sebelius endorsement for Obama for quite a long time. The real significance is that many, including myself believe that she would make a strong running mate for an Obama candidacy, given her red-state appeal and governing experience.
A more substantial diary on the impact of her selection as running mate has been forthcoming, but here is a sampling of her bio, and a wikipedia link for your enjoyment.
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius won election as the 44th Governor of Kansas in November 2002, becoming the first daughter of a U.S. governor (John Gilligan, Ohio, 1971-75) to serve in that same position, continuing a proud tradition of responsible public service. As Governor, Sebelius pledged to bring a fiscally disciplined, people oriented approach to state government, and she has delivered. In her first three legislative sessions, Governor Sebelius placed the state on sound financial footing, steered a massive economic growth package to passage, and restructured a financially troubled highway program to ensure timely completion of all projects. Budget balances have been restored and safety net services secured, without a tax increase.
Governor Sebelius also proposed sweeping educational reforms and has advanced common-sense health care proposals to reduce costs and increase the number of Kansans who have health insurance, demonstrating her belief that well funded schools and health care support for small businesses will strengthen the economy and provide for a more prosperous Kansas.
Update:I am usually so lazy about writing diaries, and even being so lazy with research in my diaries that I never thought I'd make the rec list. That just shows me how awesome this endorsement really is.
Many here believe that Obama would need to select a foreign policy specialist as his running mate to sort of balance the ticket if it came to that, and believe me I don't disagree completely.
What I've suggested though, and feel free to rebuke me if you think I'm wrong, is that it wouldn't really be necessary to put someone on the ticket who is strong in foreign policy if Obama were to have a strong surrogate on his team, initially in an 'advisory' capacity, not unlike how John Kerry had Richard Holbrooke in 2004.