Obama receives Jackson's backing as Ryan fends off divorce questions

[Freddie Stubbs]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
03/14/2004


Barack Obama, the Democratic front-runner in Illinois' Senate primaries, visited black churches from the South Side of Chicago to East St. Louis on Sunday.

The opening service of a six-day revival was in full-swing when Obama arrived at the Mount Zion Baptist Church in East St. Louis about an hour behind schedule. The church, at 2235 Bond Avenue, was filled to near capacity for the Baptist Youth Fellowship revival sponsored by the New Salem Baptist District Association.

Obama spoke from the choir loft in the front of the tabernacle Sunday evening. He told the crowd that he attends services every Sunday at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He said he has chosen public service as a way to serve God.

"I am my brothers' keeper. I am my sisters' keeper," Obama said. "If a child in Chicago cannot read, that makes a difference in my life. If there is a senior citizen right here that cannot afford prescription medicine - and I know they are here today - that matters to me."

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