Senator Ted Kennedy has announced that he would like to see Barack Obama chosen as the Democratic Party candidate for the US presidency.
Edward Kennedy's endorsement is seen as a powerful boost for Mr Obama's campaign and comes in the wake of Mr Obama's resounding victory in the South Carolina primary.
Yesterday an endorsement by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President John F Kennedy, appeared in an article in the New York Times with the headline, 'A man like my father'.
Now Ms Kennedy's uncle Ted has given his support to Mr Obama at a campaign rally in Washington.
Ted Kennedy is the younger brother of John and Robert Kennedy and one of the longest serving Democrats on Capitol Hill. His endorsement carries enormous weight within the party.
It is a painful blow for Mr Obama's main rival, Hillary Clinton.
The Clintons have socialised with the Kennedys in the past. Mrs Clinton has worked closely with Ted Kennedy and in recent weeks her supporters were pushing for Ted Kennedy to steer clear of backing any particular candidate.
But Mr Kennedy is understood to have become increasingly disenchanted with the tone of the Clinton campaign in recent weeks and increasingly impressed by Mr Obama.
Ted Kennedy's endorsement is more than symbolic, he is also planning to get outand campaign on Mr Obama's behalf in the run up to 'Super Tuesday'.
His fellow Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate, John Kerry, has also pledged his support for the Obama campaign.
