Yarmuth addresses Burch's allegation on Obama endorsement

Last week, state Representative Thomas Burch (D-Louisville) suggested a donation from Illinois Senator Barack Obama's Hope Fund PAC to 3rd District Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) may have contributed to Yarmuth's endorsement of Obama for President.

“I found out my local Congressman got $2,500 from Obama,” Burch said. “I wonder: did he pay that to get an endorsement?”

Burch made the comments to PolitickerKY.com at the opening of the Kentucky headquarters for the Presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Clinton. Burch serves as co-chair of the Jefferson County campaign organization for Clinton.

Today, Yarmuth addressed these allegations during a brief interview.

"I think everybody who understands the way I operate understands that I was going to make a decision about who I endorsed not based on what anybody gave to my campaign," Yarmuth told PolitickerKY.com.

Yarmuth said he favored Obama's candidacy before the Congressman's actual February endorsement announcement.

"Barack and I have a relationship that goes back two years. I actually said on the air - last summer on KET - that if it were up to me to choose the president, it would be Barack Obama," said Yarmuth. "I wasn’t endorsing at that time because I said endorsements have ramifications beyond just me. I was on the record as being for Barack before he ever gave me money."

"I understand that a lot of people get frustrated at this point who are Hillary's and Barack's supporters. Tensions are high and people say things they really haven’t thought through," Yarmuth continued. "Tom and I get along very well - always have. I admire his service and consider him a friend and I am sure we will be supporting the same candidate in November."

After Burch's comments were first published, a spokesperson from the Obama campaign released a brief statement, calling them "ridiculous."

As a Democratic Congressman, Yarmuth holds a coveted superdelegate vote at the summer Democratic National Convention in Denver.