Senator Ted Kennedy was originally slated to speak at Wesleyan University’s 176th commencement this upcoming Sunday, which is a pretty good deal. His step-daughter is graduating and it is his son’s 25th reunion, so having Senator Kennedy speak at graduation would have been just as significant for him as it would have been for the Class of ‘08. But due to his recent health scare and diagnosis, a substitute will be speaking in his place: Barack Obama.

Senator Obama is honored to speak on behalf of United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was previously scheduled to deliver the address.

“Ted and I talked about me filling in for him at Wesleyan University earlier this week. Considering what he’s done for me and for our country, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. So I’m looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday even though I know I won’t be able to fill his shoes,” Senator Obama said.

“We were greatly saddened that Senator Kennedy could not speak at this year’s ceremony, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” said Michael S. Roth, President of Wesleyan University. “We look forward to Senator Obama’s address and consider it a great honor to Wesleyan and Senator Kennedy that he has decided to join us, our graduates, their families and the entire Wesleyan community.”

The “entire Wesleyan community” is usually pretty broadly defined, but my guess is that the scope of the “entire Wesleyan community” that will be able to attend commencement is going to be narrowed. This is completely understandable, because commencement is a crazy event on its own without a speaker who draws 75,000 people and (and their boats). But you can check out the speech (and commencement) this Sunday at 11 via the WesCast at http://wescast.wesleyan.edu.

Less close to home, heart, and where I bust my brain is the 2nd Congressional District represented by Joe Courtney. As one of Connecticut’s remaining undeclared superdelegates, many of us in Connecticut were waiting to hear who Courtney would endorse. Why it took him 3.5 months after the Connecticut primary to make up his mind I don’t know, but I am pleased that he decided to throw his support to Barack Obama.

CTBlogger spoke with Joe Courtney about his endorsement in an interview you can hear at My Left Nutmeg:

In the interview, Congressman Courtney also discussed how an Obama ticket would help other races in the state, talked about his support for the G.I. Bill/Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, and reflected on his first term as congressman of the second district.

That leaves us with only one undeclared superdelegate in Connecticut. After reading CT Bob’s take, I think she’s just constipated. Will somebody please get this superdelegate a super-laxative?