Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced Tuesday his endorsement of presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

“I am supporting Sen. Obama in the Wisconsin primary because I believe he can reach out to new voters, to young people and to independents who will decide the next election,” Cieslewicz said in a statement. “He is a truly transformational national figure who has the chance to inspire and unite Americans like no national leader since John Kennedy.”

Cieslewicz joins Gov. Jim Doyle in supporting Obama.