Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama in his bid for President today, making her the first Missouri Democratic statewide elected official to endorse a presidential candidate.

Montee also announced the formation of “Missouri Women for Obama,” an organization she will chair. The following is from Montee’s statement:

America needs a leader who can inspire us to be better in every way. Barack Obama is a once-in-a-generation leader who will bring this country together like we haven’t seen in over 40 years. Barack Obama is running a campaign that is about more than Democrat or Republican – listen to him and you’ll hear a message of coming together as a nation to solve our common problems. Look at his record and you’ll see a history of working with people of all kinds, focusing on common purpose instead of perceived difference.

Electing Barack Obama is about more than race or gender or class. I’m endorsing Barack Obama today because he represents America as it can be, America as it should be. After nearly eight years of partisan politics trumping good government, the stakes are too high for any of us to sit on the sidelines.

Missouri Women for Obama is a statewide organization. Members are located in each of Missouri’s nine congressional districts and the organization is actively organizing women throughout the state to promote Obama’s candidacy.

Montee’s endorsement announcement included sending letters to Missouri’s newspaper editors, copies of which were provided to the press.

When Dr. Cole Woodcox of The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation announces the group’s annual list of “Most Endangered Historic Places” next week, he will do so in front of a building which is surely on the list — the Mullanphy Emigrant Home in Old North St. Louis.

Last week, PubDef Intern Reporter Dan Martin visited this endangered piece of St. Louis history and spoke with a representative from the group fighting to save it, as well as a woman who thinks they may just be wasting their time.

On Wednesday, May 16, supporters of the project to save Mullanphy will hold a benefit concert at Christ Church Cathedral at 7:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 each or buy them at the door for $25. Go to www.savemullanphy.org for more info.

EXTRA: Click here to watch Dan Martin’s full interview with Sean Thomas of the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group.