Former Rep. Major Owens (D-N.Y.) announced Tuesday that he is snubbing home-state Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D), and instead is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.

[IMGCAP(1)]Owens’ endorsement comes as Clinton and Obama — and to a lesser extent, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) — compete for backing from members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Owens, who spent two dozen years in Congress before retiring last year, currently is a fellow at the Library of Congress, writing a book about the history of the CBC.

“Barack Obama is the candidate who I feel has the leadership, the sound judgment and the will to change this country,” Owens said in a statement. “Obama stands for the concerns of the masses in the black community who have been let down by the promises of past leadership.”

About a dozen elected officials in New York are publicly supporting Obama’s presidential bid so far. Owens’ son, Chris Owens, who ran unsuccessfully for his father’s seat last year but remains a player in Brooklyn politics, also is helping Obama.

— Josh Kurtz