I’m not entirely clear on whether we’re supposed to call them “Obamacans” or “Obamacons,” but either way, there’s a group of relatively high profile Republicans who, for a variety of reasons, are supporting Barack Obama. As of this morning, that group includes a prominent former House Republican.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, a leading Republican moderate with a foreign policy background, is endorsing Democrat Barack Obama for president. The former Iowa congressman’s backing was announced Tuesday as part of a group of GOP activists crossing party lines this year.
Leach told reporters: “I’m convinced that the national interest demands a new approach to our interaction with the world.” Leach added that Obama offers the leadership to do that. […]
Leach predicted that a lot of Republicans and independents are going to be attracted by Obama’s campaign.
“I have no doubt that his is the leadership we need and that the world is crying out for,” Leach added.
He isn’t entirely alone in this. In recent months, a fair amount of Republicans and conservatives have announced their support for Obama, but most aren’t exactly household names (Doug Kmiec, Jeffrey Hart, Armstrong Williams, Richard Whalen). But this morning, the list not only got bigger — Leach is a pretty big “get” — it got organized. “Republicans for Obama” kicked off their efforts.
It sets up an interesting contrast. Last week, the McCain campaign unveiled a video filled with Democrats who’d said complimentary things (in the past) about McCain. This ups the ante — we have a group of Republicans who not are only praising Obama, but are actively supporting his campaign and encouraging other Republicans to do the same.
Rita Hauser, a former fundraiser for Bush who is helping organize this initiative for Obama, said this morning, “[I]t’s difficult to walk away from your party’s nominee but you have to put your country first.”
The NYT had an online item about the “Republicans for Obama” effort.
Rita Hauser, a New York philanthropist who raised money for both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, is helping to organize the push to draw Republicans away from Mr. McCain and will serve as a spokeswoman for the group, alongside former U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee, of Rhode Island, who was one of the most moderate Republicans in the Senate and became an independent after he lost his seat in 2006.
Ms. Hauser served as a finance chairwoman in New York for George W. Bush in 2000 and was a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board during his first term, but she endorsed Senator John F. Kerry in 2004, because of her opposition to the Iraq War.
Ms. Hauser said she was motivated to support the presumed Democratic nominee, Mr. Obama, again by her feelings on Iraq. But she said others in the group were driven by other issues.
About 20 current and former Republicans make up the group’s leadership committee, including Douglas Kmiec, a Republican who served in the Justice Department under President Ronald Reagan and was a supporter of Mitt Romney during the Republican primary, and Dorothy Danforth Burlin, a Washington lawyer who is the daughter of former U.S. Senator John Danforth, another moderate Republican.
The group plans to unveil a Web site this week that will include a chat room and the ability for others to sign onto their cause.
It’s hard to predict whether this will have any significant impact, but I don’t doubt there are plenty of Republican voters out there who aren’t satisfied with the direction of the country, and aren’t encouraged by the prospect of John McCain picking up where George W. Bush left off.
If nothing else
, I’m glad Republicans for Obama exists, so they can at least know that they’re not alone.
C’mon over, disaffected Republicans, the water’s fine.