DENVER - Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard) endorsed the presidential bid of the eventual Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), before Kentucky's primary and when Obama was shown trailing significantly in polls of the state's voters - and by even larger margins in the eastern Kentucky area home to Mongiardo.

Mongiardo, in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, said he felt the heat after his decision.

"There was a huge amount of negative feedback by a lot of passionate Clinton supporters," Mongiardo told PolitickerKY.com today.

The Lt. Governor argued the reason for the schism was a similar one referenced by many Kentucky Obama supporters - knowledge of the other candidate on the ballot.

"In my opinion the reason is because we've known Hillary Clinton for years. She has been the first lady of Arkansas, a neighboring state, so we have known her for a long, long time," said Mongiardo.

"And in Kentucky, familiarity is family," he added. "The opposite is true as well. If we don't know you, we have a tendency to be a little bit stand-offish."

Mongiardo praised Clinton as "a worthy presidential candidate" but explained he himself was swayed to Obama's side by a personal knowledge of the senator from Illinois.

"I have had a personal relationship with Barack Obama in that he came to Kentucky and supported me during my ‘04 US Senate race," said Mongiardo, referring to his bid against U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning. "So, I've gotten to know him and I know the type of person he is."

"I believe that Barack Obama will be a pivotal figure in the future of our country," added Mongiardo. "He is a man of character and great judgment, and for me it is a no-brainer."

The divide evidenced among Kentucky Democrats during the primary should be lessened after the convention, according to Mongiardo, who said the speeches of the last two days did a great deal towards unifying the party.

"This convention has, I believe, brought together both sides of our party - the Hillary Clinton Democrats and the Barack Obama Democrats," said Mongiardo. "Hillary had a lot to do with that and Bill Clinton had a lot to do with that."