Congressional sisters split on candidates

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The only sister act in the history of the U.S. Congress finds itself firmly planted in two camps for the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee.

U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., supports Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., while older sister Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., supports Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"Hillary and I have been on the campaign trail for many candidates over the years," the older sister, first elected to represent California in 1997, said on MSNBC. "And of course, we know that she's very experienced and she's very competent."

But Linda Sanchez, elected in 2003, said Obama is turning heads and gaining momentum.

People looking at Obama are "seeing somebody who's got all of the great component parts to be a great president and a great leader," Linda Sanchez told MSNBC.