Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, a Democrat who represented New Jersey but who launched his failed 2000 bid for president from the Mississippi River shores of his home town of Crystal City, Mo., has re-entered the political spotlight today.

Bradley endorsed U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president.

Here’s an excerpt of Bradley’s statement:

“Barack Obama is building a broad new coalition that brings together Democrats, Independents, and Republicans by once again making idealism a central focus of our politics,” said Senator Bradley. “Because of his enormous appeal to Americans of all ages and backgrounds, Obama is the candidate best positioned to win in November. Barack knows above all that unless people can once again believe in our democracy, we won’t be able to do the things that need to be done on health care and education or to break our dependence on foreign oil. His movement for change could create a new era of American politics - truly a new American story.”

Said Obama in reply:

“Bill Bradley has always called on Americans to reach for what is possible in our politics. As a Senator, he was a thoughtful and tireless reformer, expanding health care for children and college education, and working to heal economic and racial divides. As a presidential candidate and author, he has continued to challenge us to build a mandate for pragmatic solutions and progressive change, and I am truly grateful that he has endorsed my candidacy.”

For those unfamiliar with Bradley, he was a Missouri basketball star as a high school athlete, went to Princeton, was a Rhodes Scholar, played professional basketball for the New York Knicks, and was inducted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Fame in 1982.

After turning down a plea from Missouri Democrats to run for statewide office in the 1970s, he won election to the U.S. Senate in 1978 in New Jersey, and represented that state from 1979 to 1997. He has written six books about American culture and politics, and has had a radio show on satellite.