Caroline Kennedy backs Obama

Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, endorsed the presidential bid of Democrat Barack Obama, citing his leadership, judgment and "special ability to get us to believe in ourselves."

"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them," she wrote in an article to be published in today's New York Times. "But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

The endorsement, her first during a Democratic primary race outside of her family, may benefit Obama, 46, an Illinois U.S. senator, as he competes with New York U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton in more than 20 states on Feb. 5. Obama won the South Carolina Democratic primary Saturday, his second win among the four contested state contests so far this year.

"Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things," wrote Kennedy, 50. "In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible. We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama."