CNN reported Thursday that the U.S. Secret Service will guard Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama because of a threat made against him.
Darrien Blackford, a spokesman for the Secret Service, confirmed that Obama will be under its protection. Blackford told ESSENCE that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized the protection order, but Blackford said the agency would not provide any details about why.
“After consultation with the congressional advisory committee, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized the Secret Service to protect presidential candidate Barack Obama,” said Blackford. “That advisory committee is made up of Chertoff, the speaker of the house, the house minority leader, the senate majority leader and the senate minority leader.”
The Illinois senator has done surprisingly well in the polls and would be the first African-American president if elected in 2008.