New Hampshire Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) announced Tuesday that she is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the 2008 presidential race.

[IMGCAP(1)]Shea-Porter, one of the House freshmen swept into office by the Democratic wave in 2006, joins fellow Granite State Rep. Paul Hodes (D) in supporting Obama. Hodes, also a freshman, announced his endorsement in July.

In a conference call with reporters, Shea-Porter said she had not expected to endorse a candidate but felt Obama was the best candidate who could bring about change in Washington.

“I said I would not publicly endorse unless there was a compelling reason to do so. And for the past year, through the hot summer days and the snow, I did not,” Shea-Porter said, according to The Associated Press. “But now, I see that compelling reason to step out.”

Also this week, Obama picked up the support of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a staunch anti-war liberal. Lee is the first Member of the self-described “Triad” — the anti-war trio that also includes California Democratic Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters — to issue an endorsement in the presidential contest.

Meanwhile, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) is leading a caravan of Obama supporters to Waterloo on Dec. 15. Supporters will take a bus from Chicago to Iowa for a day’s worth of canvassing.

To date, Obama has a total of 29 Members of Congress who have endorsed his bid. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has 73 Members, and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) has 16 Members.