Obama to fill in for Kennedy at Wesleyan Commencement

Press release just issued from the campaign

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA TO DELIVER WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Chicago, IL – On Sunday, May 25, 2008, United States Senator Barack Obama will deliver the Commencement Address at the 176th Commencement Ceremony at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

Senator Obama is honored to speak on behalf of United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was previously scheduled to deliver the address.

"Ted and I talked about me filling in for him at Wesleyan University earlier this week.  Considering what he's done for me and for our country, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him. So I'm looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday even though I know I won't be able to fill his shoes," Senator Obama said.

The commencement can be viewed live here

More on the commencement here

From Yesterday:

Wesleyan University, where Kennedy was scheduled to give the commencement address Sunday, began preparing alternate plans.

"At this point, we do not believe the senator is coming," said David Pesci, a spokesman for the university. Pesci said the university has not yet settled on another speaker.

The Kennedy family has several connections with Wesleyan.

Kennedy's son, Edward Kennedy Jr., graduated from there in 1983, and the university gave the senator an honorary degree in 1984. This year, Kennedy's stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin, is graduating from Wesleyan. - Hartford Courant

More from the Courant

Kennedy's stepdaughter is among the Wesleyan students graduating Sunday. And the commencement exercises coincide with 25th reunion festivities for his son, Edward Kennedy Jr.