By Michelle R. Smith
The Associated Press
Thursday 14 February 2008
Providence, Rhode Island - Former Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday, saying he is the best presidential candidate to restore the nation's credibility.
Chafee, who left the GOP last year and became an independent, said the Illinois senator has the intelligence, ideas and fortitude needed to be the next president.
"I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore American credibility, to restore our confidence, to be moral and just, and to bring people together to solve the complex issues such as the economy, the environment and global stability," Chafee said in a conference call with reporters.
Chafee, one of the more liberal Republicans in the Senate, lost his seat in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse. Chafee was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the war in Iraq, and said Obama's early opposition to the war was key to his decision.
"We need people with good judgment," he said.
Chafee remains popular in the Ocean State. On the day he lost his Senate seat, his approval ratings were 63 percent. He's now a visiting fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies.
He said he spoke with Obama on Tuesday and offered to do anything he wanted to help him win. Rhode Island's primary will be held March 4, the same day as primaries in Texas, Ohio and Vermont.
In an odd bit of timing, Chafee made the announcement the same day Republican front-runner Sen. John McCain planned his first campaign trip to Rhode Island. McCain's last visit here was to campaign and raise money for Chafee during his failed re-election bid.
"That's just the way the system works," Chafee said when asked about McCain's visit. "I'm sure Senator McCain will understand."
During that race, Obama came to Rhode Island twice for Whitehouse, who has endorsed Clinton.
1 comment:
As Obama gets the votes Law Makers wanting a job will follow. Talk about a crowded field. It reminds me of a horse race. As people see the horse 400 feet ahead of the field they say that's my horse, as to be on the winning side. As the field of horses reach the finish line and one horse slips in to win, those some people say I knew it we won.
I've seen John Kerry who wants to be the next Dick Cheney to Obama and then theirs Ted Kennedy who needs to improve in image and get money for his State. Yes some Leaders even are changing sides to get their foot in the door to favors. As we have watched Republicans steal, lie and do as much corruption then any other in the History of theis Country. We will see it happen to the Democrats if this continues. Senator Obama might think he alone can change with his senior Law Makers behind him. But what change will happen? Government is made up of all the Law Makers and listening to Obama he seems to want to take the policy of the President being the sole power, in a way like Bush. Does Congress have a roll in Obama's system? We will have the same thing just different players. If so we all lose in the end. Giving a great speech isn't enough to show leadership. I watched two men give great speeches none were Presidents and each had millions of followers while dividing a race of people. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were those two men. It took the wisdom of Dr. King to work with a White President to bring the Civil Rights Bill to Law. I also noticed how Senator Obama is embracing his Blackness while the Katrina victims, Jenna 6 and other Crimes against Blacks were done Senator Obama wasn't heard or seen. Leadership comes in many forms but like those who just follow with the words and no action behind it the results are already seen from the pass. I think representing all Americans is what a President should do, but using your race to get votes just shows how Americans have learned nothing in the pass 7 years.
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