Veteran legislator Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, a few minutes ago publicly endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president.

“Barack has the skills and experience that’s necessary to really challenge the status quo in Washington, D.C.,” Miller said via phone prior to a noon press conference in San Francisco. “I’m very encouraged by the energy of the people responding to him and his vision of how people can come together to solve the problems that confront us.”

Contra Costa Supervisor Susan Bonilla also endorsed Obama at the noon event in San Francisco.

Miller’s decision to back Obama comes as no philosophical surprise. Both men have been opposed to the Iraq War since its inception, one of the hallmark issues in Miller’s progressive Bay Area district.

But Miller is also a renowned champion of women in politics — he has both ears of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco — and it would not have appeared odd if he had thrown his name behind the first woman to seek the presidency and Obama’s chief rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. In the congressional districts next door, Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo, is supporting Clinton, while Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, has not endorsed anyone.

“Why not help elect the first woman president?” Miller said. “That can be argued. But why not elect the first African-American?”

As for the experience factor, Miller, who has served in the House of Representative for more than 30 years, says Clinton’s longevity in Washington and politics does not necessarily translate into leadership.
“Obama’s experience in looking at the evidence led him to conclude that the Iraq War was not a war we should engage in, while Clinton looked at the same evidence and concluded that we should engage in it,” Miller said. “The number of years in (office) is neither here nor there. What matters is the leadership to reach the scores of independent voters and across the political lines to make change.”

“I’ve watched both campaign and I know both candidates and I believe Obama offers us an opportunity to truly change the way we do business in Washington.”

Miller also looked at the candidacy of former U.S. senator John Edwards but says he doesn’t “see the people responding in a way that will make his campaign viable in the general election. This is about putting together a campaign in the primary that can win in the general election.”

Note: Photo is George Miller’s official congressional picture as it appears at http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/bio.html