Maria Shriver, the wife of California's Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a member of the powerful Kennedy clan, yesterday gave a surprise, last-minute boost to Barack Obama's bid to clinch the delegate-rich state, Super Tuesday's biggest prize.

The first lady of California, an unannounced guest at a get-out-the-vote rally hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama, urged a crowd of around 3,000 to back the Illinois senator in tomorrow's polls, stressing the critical role Californians will play in the battle for the White House.

"The more I thought about it, I thought, you know, if Barack Obama was a state he would be California," Miss Shriver added, to thunderous applause.

"I mean, think about it - he's diverse. Open. Smart. Independent. Bucks tradition. Innovative. Inspiring. Dreamer. Leader!" After every word, the crowd screamed "yes!"

"He's not about himself, he's about us," she said. "He's about the power of us and what we can do when we come together.

"He is about empowering women, African-Americans, Latinos, older people, young people. He's about empowering all of us."

Also on stage with talk show host Miss Winfrey and Mrs Obama were Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the former Democratic President John F. Kennedy, and Stevie Wonder, another surprise guest, who pulled out his harmonica and played a brief song to the words "Barack Obama" as he pledged his support for the senator.

Maria Shriver backs Barack Obama
By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles Last Updated: 1:45AM GMT 05 Feb 2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1577597/Maria-Shriver-backs-Barack-Obama.html