Charleston (WV) Gazette, May 19, 2008:

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., endorsed Barack Obama for president shortly after noon today, focusing on his hope to end the Iraq War.

"As people all across this great nation know, I have been one of the most outspoken opponents of the Bush administration's misguided war in Iraq and its saber rattling around the globe," Byrd said.

He said he had "no intention of involving myself in the Democratic campaign for President in the midst of West Virginia's primary election. But the stakes this November could not be higher."

Byrd praised both Obama and Hillary Clinton, saying their "integrity, honor, love for this country and strong belief in our Constitution I deeply respect...

"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support," Byrd concluded.

Entire article copied under specific claim of fair use, since quotes of the Senator comprise the majority of the article.

The West Virginia primary was May 13th. Had Jurassic Pork chosen to make his endorsement before, not after, his state's primary, it might have had some meaningful effect. Instead, he made it for ... no particular reason? To help Obama win? I don't get it. Why bother, after? I do not think that the phrase "in the midst" means what Jurassic Pork thinks it does.

My suspicion: emissaries of the "humble Christian" (he is a Christian but I see no evidence of humility in Obama, nor would I particularly want or expect it) got to Senator Byrd and promised him some badly needed support, such as some more interstate highway money to connect more towns with no stoplights with each other.