Nation : Ron Brown Claims Democratic Post

WASHINGTON — Attorney Ronald Brown claimed victory today in the race for the Democratic Party chairmanship after he received the endorsement of his chief rival in the four-candidate race. He would be the first black to win the post.

“I am ending my campaign today and I am endorsing Ron,” said Rick Wiener, the Michigan Democratic Party chairman, widely regarded as Brown’s principal competitor. Brown, Jesse Jackson’s convention manager in Atlanta last summer, immediately issued a statement thanking Wiener and saying, “I now have more than enough votes to win the chairmanship of the DNC.”