Rock Star Springsteen Endorses Obama

Rock star Bruce Springsteen endorsed Democratic senator Barack Obama for president today, saying "he speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years".

In a letter addressed to friends and fans posted on his website, Springsteen said he believes Obama is the best candidate to undo "the terrible damage done over the past eight years".

"He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next president," the letter said.

"He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where '... nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone' ", he wrote, referring lines from the song Long Walk Home, featured on his 2007 album, Magic.

The singer is known for his lyrics about the struggles of working-class Americans, particularly in the economically ravaged factory towns of the north-east.

Springsteen and his E Street band were part of the Vote or Change tour, a coalition of musicians opposed to the re-election of President George Bush in 2004.

Springsteen did not directly mention Senator Hillary Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, in his letter, but appeared to take issue with her recent criticisms of comments made by Obama about working-class voters in small towns in Pennsylvania and controversial statements by Obama's pastor.

"Critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships," Springsteen wrote.

"While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision ... often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment."