Birch Bayh campaigns for Obama

KNOXVILLE, Ind., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., says he's campaigning vigorously for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, despite being 80 years old.

"One thing Barack Obama conveys to me is a spirit of hope, very much like Jack Kennedy," Bayh said. "I think Obama appeals to our better element; that we can be bigger, better and make our country the kind of country we want it to be."

For the past month, Bayh has left his home in Washington to tour Indiana, making several campaign stops nearly every day in cities and towns across the state, The Indianapolis Star reported Sunday.

Bayh served in the Senate for 18 years until being defeated in 1980 by Dan Quayle. Bayh is the father of U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, a former Indiana governor who was on the short list to become Obama's running mate, the Star reported.

Birch Bayh perhaps is best known for sponsoring the 1972 Title IX pact, which guaranteed women equal rights in sports and education in public schools.