After running away with a dominant victory in the South Carolina primaries (as expected), Senator Barack Obama received good news that the family of the ex-president his campaign has been compared to, John F. Kennedy, are endorsing him.In a New York Times op-ed piece today, JFK’s daughter, Caroline, wrote a glowing endorsement of Obama and the importance of his inspiring the “new generation of Americans” –

“Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president - not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.”

The TIMES’ Mark Halperin writes today that there are “Six Reasons Why the Kennedy Endorsement is a Big Deal”. Among them –

1. He has a huge following with Hispanics, a big deal in California and other Super Tuesday states, and one of Obama’s weaknesses.

2. The symbolic Kennedy family thing — the ultimate message of change, viability, Democratic legitimacy, and youthful excitement.

3. The national press will be obsessed with the story for days and days to come, with no downside for Obama; the local press coverage when Kennedy travels for Obama will be ginormous.

4. It sends a message to other senators and superdelegates that it is OK to be for Obama — they don’t have to be afraid of the Clintons.

5. He has a huge following among working-class, traditional Democrats, one of Obama’s weaknesses.

6. He has a huge following among union households, another of Obama’s weaknesses.

This could be a big deal heading into next Tuesday’s fake “national primary” where 22 states open their voting booths.

Among things that may not be a big deal, Stuart Rothenberg breaks down early exit polls and makes the argument that “electability” may not be as big an issue as many folks think.