Bruce Springsteen backs Barack Obama

He hasn’t performed at any presidential fund-raisers yet, but Bruce Springsteen has voiced his support for Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in another way — through the Internet with a message on Springsteen’s website.

The recent endorsement comes just prior to the fiercely contested Pennsylvania primary, scheduled for tomorrow, April 22, between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. In recent months, Dave Matthews, the Grateful Dead and Elton John have held concerts in support of the two candidates (the Dead and Matthews for Obama and John for Clinton).

Springsteen’s post, in part, reads:

“Dear Friends and Fans:

Like most of you, I’ve been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. 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….’

Over here on E Street, we’re proud to support Obama for President.”

In the meantime, Springsteen and his E Street Band are currently on the road supporting “Magic,” his first studio album in five years that was released last October. Last week, the band was dealt some sad news when keyboardist Danny Federici passed away.