Representative John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and prominent African-American lawmaker previously aligned with Sen. Hillary Clinton, switched to support rival Sen. Barrack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Lewis announced the change in a statement.

Something is happening in America, he said in a released statement. There is a movement, there is a spirit, there is an enthusiasm in the hearts and minds of the American people that I have not seen in a long time, since the candidacy of Robert Kennedy.

Obama accepted the endorsement from the long-time civil rights leader.

I am deeply honored to have his support, he added.

Lewis explained that he switched his vote people in his district were in strong favor of Obama.

I think the candidacy of Sen. Obama represents the beginning of a new movement in American political history that began in the hearts and minds of the people of this nation. And I want to be on the side of the people, on the side of the spirit of history.

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