Early endorsements flying fast and furious today, including one that Tanya called to my attention. Is this news?

Rev. Jesse Jackson said his stopping by Obama’s fundraiser was, “quite coincidental” and that he was in L.A. working on some trade and education issues. As for Obama, “Barack has my vote. He’s from Illinois.” He also described former Sen. John Edwards as, “a sleeper.”

He all but endorsed him last month, but so far as I know this is the first time he’s explicitly said he won’t be voting for the other reverend.

As for Barkley, yeah, he’s re-branded. Last summer, in fact:

“He’s right,” Charles Barkley said of Mellencamp. “The word conservative means discriminatory practically. It’s a form of political discrimination. What do the Republicans run on? Against gay marriage and for a war that makes no sense. A war that was based on faulty intelligence. That’s all they ever talk about. That and immigration. Another discriminatory argument for political gain.”…

“I was a Republican until they lost their minds,” Barkley said.

Here he is on “The Situation Room” tonight lying to Blitzer’s face about never having identified as Republican and showing off some of his newfound nuance with an argument about what it’ll mean if neither Hillary nor Obama becomes president. Exit question: Given that Democrats will have to choose one or the other, should we draw the same conclusions about them based on their choice?

Note: the clip has been edited for brevity.