Jackson Hole Underground

Ending his long silence on the Democratic race, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal today endorsed Barack Obama for president, saying Obama has the “skills and energy to reinvigorate this nation.”

The governor credited Obama’s understanding of energy and environmental issues, his openness and his appeal to a wide swath of Wyoming residents. He characterized Obama as a leader capable of rallying what Abe Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.”

“The negativity, partisanship and lack of purpose that characterize our national debate and government are crippling this country,” Freudenthal said in a statement. “While no one individual can effect this change alone, the change must begin with someone. Senator Obama is the Democratic candidate with the openness, honesty and skill to end this vicious cycle of business as usual.”

Freudenthal is one of Wyoming’s superdelegates and thus adds another critical vote in Obama’s favor as pressure builds for Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race.

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Yes, we did.

Wyoming gave Barack Obama a much-needed boost Saturday, as the presidential hopeful rode the biggest turnout in state Democratic Party history to yet another overwhelming victory out West.

Teton County led the way, with 80 percent of voters backing Obama — his largest margin of victory in the state. Overall, Obama claimed 61 percent of the vote in Wyoming, compared to 38 percent for Hillary Clinton.

Obama now has won 29 of the 43 nominating contests and leads by 150 delegates heading into Tuesday’s primary in Mississippi.

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After a frenzied day of press releases from the Clinton camp, turns out Hillary isn’t afraid to ride the open range of Wyoming, after all.

Following the trail blazed by her husband and daughter today, Hillary Clinton will make two campaign stops in the Equality State on Friday: Cheyenne in the afternoon and Casper by evening. Details can be found here.

Chelsea Clinton is joining her father in Riverton this morning before hosting her own event at Casper college this afternoon. The former president heads to Rock Springs and Laramie later today.

The Clinton family hasn’t spent so much time in Wyoming since 1995 and 1996, when they vacationed in Jackson Hole and paddled the whitewater of the Snake River.

We are getting ready to hit the road to see Obama in Casper on Friday. Now that Hillary is coming, we will stick around to catch her, too.

While I’ve been writing for weeks that Wyoming could play an important role in deciding the next president, I guess I never fully believed it, until last night.

But now it’s on. Hillary Clinton, fresh off wins in Ohio and Texas but deeply unpopular in cowboy country, is sending her husband to campaign for her Thursday in Rock Springs, Riverton and Laramie.

Barack Obama is planning visits to Casper on Friday morning and Laramie on Friday evening. Check comments below for schedule and information on ride sharing. JH Underground will be on the trail in Casper and blogging from the road.

Last night’s results, from which Obama emerged still holding a lead of more than 150 pledged delegates, underscore just how crucial every vote will be in Saturday’s Wyoming Democratic Caucus.

The registration drive two weeks ago was a resounding success. Now it’s time to take the next step: Round up all your friends who are registered Democrats, and stop by Snow King Resort between 4 and 6 p.m. Saturday to vote in the Teton County Democratic Convention.

Those who have to work or are on a tight schedule may show up, cast a vote and leave. Anyone who is in line as of 6 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

A year or even a few months ago, the thought of Wyoming impacting this election seemed as improbable as, say, Eli Manning winning the Super Bowl.

All eyes will be on the Equality State on Saturday. The world is watching.