Brandon "Superman" Routh swoops in to defend Obama

INDIANOLA, Iowa (CNN) — He may be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but Superman can’t caucus.

Actor and Iowa native Brandon Routh is better-known for his role as Superman, but Sunday night he made a cameo appearance on the campaign trail, speaking on behalf of
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at a rally in Indianola, Iowa.

Routh says he is "sad" that he can't caucus any more because he no longer lives in the Hawkeye State, but he says he's "excited" by Obama's ability to unite the country. He also says he likes that Obama is not taking money from lobbyists or special interests.

Routh says he hopes his visit will empower people to caucus for Obama.

Routh is a former fashion model turned actor. He appeared on several television series before being cast as the title hero in the 2006 film Superman Returns.

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Obama backer is Super

First it was Oprah. Now Barack Obama has the support of Superman. Iowa native Brandon Routh, who starred in "Superman Returns," returned to his home state Saturday to help Obama's campaign.

Asked by the Daily News how influential Superman will be, Routh replied, "I'm here as an Iowan." But he added, "A lot of people here have great respect for the character of Superman."

'Superman' to swoop in

While Clinton had Strickland by her side Saturday, Obama rolled out Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an African American from Chicago's South Side, who told Iowa voters to disregard pundits who say Obama, 46, ought to wait to run until he's older or more experienced. They said the same thing when Patrick ran for governor of Massachusetts, Patrick said.

Today, Obama will be joined by Iowa native and "Superman" actor Brandon Routh on the stump.

Superman visits: As a couple of dozen volunteers made phone calls on behalf of Obama on Sunday, who walked in the door but Superman.

Oh, and that guy from "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle."

Superman - a.k.a. Brandon Routh, the Norwalk native who starred in the 2006 movie "Superman Returns" - walked into the office full of volunteers at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Stumping for Obama is Routh's honeymoon, in a way. He married Courtney Ford a month ago, and coming to Iowa was their first trip as a married couple.

Joining Superman was his dear friend Kumar, a.k.a. Kal Penn, star of the recent film "The Namesake."

Penn has been in Iowa three times for Obama and has made phone calls to potential caucusgoers.

"I can't caucus because I'm a California resident," Routh said. "But I see how much power we have, and that all eyes are on Iowa. We have a great opportunity to make a statement and elect this guy whom we all believe in. That's one reason I'm here."

"And there's a writers' strike," Penn added.

Spotted: Kal Penn, of “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” and Brandon Routh, otherwise known as the new Superman, eating at Dos Rios Cantina in Des Moines. The two actors are in the state for Mr. Obama. (Mr. Routh is also an Iowa native.)

Source: CNN | Yahoo! News | New York Daily News | Desmoines Register | New York Times | Chicago Sun-Times