A person close to Kennedy said the senator decided Thursday to endorse Obama and called him that day. Clinton was told Sunday, said the source, who requested anonymity in discussing internal campaign matters.
Kennedy and Obama have developed a friendship. Obama over a year ago discussed with Kennedy whether he should get into the race, and Kennedy encouraged him to do so, the source said. The two worked together on the immigration bill in the Senate.
Clinton and Obama are members of the health, education, labor and pensions committee, which Kennedy chairs.
Bill Carrick, a Democratic strategist who once worked for Kennedy, said the senator's endorsement was one of the three big prizes in the 2008 race. The others are former Vice President Al Gore and the party's 2004 nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.
Kerry has endorsed Obama, but Gore has not made an endorsement.
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peter.nicholas@latimes.com
maria.laganga@latimes.com
Times staff writers Alan C. Miller and Dan Morain contributed to this report.
