Ryan decides to back Clinton

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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles

The Mahoning Valley congressman said Clinton has the experience to bring jobs to Northeast Ohio.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, formally announced his support for the candidacy of U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.

Citing her experience and economic platform, Ryan, in a press release issued Saturday, said he believes that Clinton, D-N.Y., if elected president, is in the best position to create jobs and economic growth in Northeast Ohio.

Ryan is a superdelegate, as are all the Democratic members of Congress in Ohio, so his endorsement increases Clinton’s delegate count. Ryan represents portions of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton of Copley Township in Summit County, D-13th, pledged her support to Clinton a few days ago.

“The people of the 17th District overwhelmingly voted for Senator Clinton in the Democratic primary, and today I officially pledge my support for Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Ryan said.

In the March 4 Democratic presidential primary in Ohio, Clinton received about 63 percent of the vote in the 17th District compared with 35 percent for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and 2 percent for U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who quit the race before the primary but was still on the ballot.

Ryan originally had endorsed U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who dropped out in January, the day after he fared poorly in the party’s first presidential contest — the Iowa caucus.

“Throughout the 1990s, Senator Clinton, working alongside President Bill Clinton, had a proven record of economic growth and higher wages for America’s working families,” Ryan added. “People in the 17th District of Ohio would enjoy a return to strong economic growth, millions of jobs being created and a rise in wages. I look forward to working with her to see that our community is the beneficiary of her economic policies.”

Clinton said, “I am honored to have Congressman Ryan’s support. Tim is a vital voice for the rights of our working class, and I look forward to having his help spreading our message of change and experience throughout Ohio and the United States.”

Ryan was elected to represent the 17th Congressional District in November 2002. Now in his third term, Ryan sits on the House Appropriations Committee and the Steering and Policy Committee. He is also co-chairman of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus.

Still uncommitted is U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, who represents all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning.

According to the latest delegate tally from the Associated Press, Obama has 1,645, compared to 1,507 for Clinton.

A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to win the nomination.oungstown on Tuesday, the same day as the critical Pennsylvania primary for the Democrats.