Clinton endorsement spurs Lewis' opponent

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – The fallout over the Presidential endorsement made by Georgia Congressman John Lewis continues.

The civil rights veteran was criticized for supporting Hillary Clinton instead of Barack Obama. Now, Lewis is denying a New York Times article saying he'll cast his super delegate vote for Obama.

And this week, a new civil rights leader, hoping to capitalize on the controversy, announced he's running against Lewis in the July Democratic primary.

You may remember Rev Markel Hutchins as a spokesman for Kathyrn Johnston's family. The 92 year old woman was killed by Atlanta police in a botched drug raid. Moving into politics, Hutchins says John Lewis should have been on the Barack Obama bandwagon a long time ago.

HUTCHINS: I think the winds of change are blowing in America and they have turned into a whirlwind in the 5th Congressional district.

It all started in October when Lewis gave his long sought after endorsement to the Senator from New York.

LEWIS: Hilary Clinton will be a strong leader. She will fight for what is fair, for what is right and for what is just.

Apparently, Lewis' metro Atlanta district disagreed. On Super Tuesday, about 80 thousand district voters chose Obama; almost 53 thousand more than Clinton.

Evidence, according to Hutchins', that Lewis is out of touch.

HUTCHINS: I don't think that Congressman Lewis had the right as an elected representative to throw the support of the 5th Congressional district behind a candidate that the people in this district clearly were not favorable to.

Lewis is a Super Delegate whose vote at the party's convention this summer is not tied to his constituents. That concerns Hutchins.

HUTCHINS: in some sense there is a potential for our Congress person to cancel out the votes of the overwhelming majority of people that live in the district that he's elected to represent.

Last week, the New York Times reported Lewis had a change of heart and plans to cast his delegate vote for Obama. Later, Lewis retracted the report and has not spoken on the issue since.

Lewis didn't respond to calls and email requests for this story. However, in a statement he said he helped birth the political movement currently happening in America.

He also pledged to continue to fight for the 5th district in Congress.