Ellington

AP is reporting: "Former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun dropped out of the presidential race Thursday and endorsed Howard Dean as 'a Democrat we can all be proud to support.'

"'Gov. Dean has the energy to inspire the American people, to break the cocoon of fear that envelopes us and empowers President Bush and his entourage from the extreme right-wing,' she said at a joint appearance with the former Vermont governor.

Braun, whose own campaign failed to generate significant campaign funds or support in national or state polls, said Dean had a program to 'put our country back on track to tax fairness, job creation, balanced budgets and an economy that works for everyone regardless of sex or race.'"