Los Angeles: The Democratic presidential hopeful, Barack Obama got another boost in his campaign when Maria Shriver, the first lady of California and member of the Kennedy clan, endorsed the senator for his bid for U.S. president on Sunday.

The interesting decision from California first lady came days after her husband, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, backed Republican John McCain.
   
Addressing the crowd at an Obama rally at the University of California at Los Angeles, Shriver said, “I thought, if Barack Obama were a state, he'd be California, I mean think about it. Diverse. Open. Smart. Independent. Bucks tradition. Innovative. Inspiring. Dreamer. Leader."

After the endorsement, Obama, Illinois senator, who is running neck and neck with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, sees himself in comfortable position for Super Tuesday, in which California and more than 20 other states hold primaries and caucuses to nominate Democratic and Republican candidates for the November presidential election.

Shriver was flanked at the rally by her cousin Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy and television talk-show star Oprah Winfrey. Caroline Kennedy and Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, the brother of the slain president, have also backed Obama.

On the contrary, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican California Governor has endorsed John McCain, the moderate Republican senator. John McCain, whose primary challenger for the Republican nomination is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has greater support in the Republican camp that pushes him well ahead his rival.