Former astronaut Glenn to endorse Clinton

COLUMBUS (AP) — Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn planned to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign today, sources told The Associated Press.

Glenn was to join Gov. Ted Strickland, who has already endorsed Clinton, at 1 p.m. in Columbus. Two sources with direct knowledge confirmed the endorsement on condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the formal event.

Glenn, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1974 to 1998, represented Ohio longer than any other senator in the state’s history. He is best known outside Ohio as the first American to orbit Earth in the tiny Mercury 7 capsule in 1962 and for seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984.

He also went back into space in 1998, at age 77.

The endorsement comes as Clinton and chief rival Barack Obama turn their sights to Ohio’s March 4 presidential primary. Neither Democrat has secured enough delegates to the nominating convention to be the front-runner. Clinton has worked hard to line up high-profile party elders; Obama has focused his effort on building a grass-roots organization.

Glenn generally avoided campaigns after he decided to return to space.