Jan 28, 2008 1:00 pm US/Eastern
Famed Black Writer Toni Morrison Endorses Obama
Author Once Called Bill Clinton 'First Black President'
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Toni Morrison - the author who famously called Bill Clinton the "first black president" - is now backing Barack Obama
AP
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The author who famously called Bill Clinton the "first black president" is now backing Barack Obama -- and says her support has nothing to do with race.
Toni Morrison says she's supporting the Democratic presidential candidate because of his "creative imagination" and "wisdom" -- things that she says have nothing to do with race, gender, age or experience.
In a letter to Obama, Morrison writes that the Illinois senator also possesses "keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity."
While Morrison says she's admired Hillary Rodham Clinton for years because of her knowledge and mastery of politics, she chose to support Obama because of his vision.
Obama says he's "deeply moved and honored" by Morrison's letter of support.
In 1998, Morrison called Bill Clinton the first black president, saying he displayed "almost every trope of blackness," being the child of a poor, working-class single-parent household who loved junk food and the saxophone.