US rock superstar Bruce Springsteen endorsed yesterday Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for presidency, saying "he speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years."

In an open letter to "friends and fans," the rock legend known as the Boss believes Obama is the best candidate to undo "the terrible damage done over the past eight years."

"Like most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Sen. Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest," says the letter.

He has "the depth, the reflectiveness and the resilience" to be the next US president." He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where '...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone.' "

"I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans."

The Obama campaign welcomed the endorsement.

"The America that Bruce Springsteen has spoken about through song is one of big dreams, unyielding hope, and a resilient, hardworking people who struggle and sacrifice for a country as good as its promise," the senator said in a statement.

Springsteen and his E Street band were part of the Vote for Change tour, a coalition of musicians opposed to the re-election of President Bush in 2004. He wrote the anti-war ballad "Devils and Dust" about Iraq.

Many of Springsteen's songs are about struggling working class Americans.