Republicans for Obama Unite

After the last two elections in which the conventional wisdom was that victory was determined by turning out a candidate’s own party’s base as opposed to attracting swing voters, it is a welcome change to see both parties nominate candidates who have shown interest in attracting support from members of the other party. I hope that this means that regardless of who wins we will not have a president who attempts to govern from one extreme while ignoring the views of the other party. I’ve had numerous previous posts noting conservatives and libertarians who are supporting Obama over McCain. The Hill reports that Obama plans to use this to his advantage:

Barack Obama’s campaign is talking with Republicans who have endorsed his presidential bid, seeking to coordinate a publicity blitz together.

The campaign recently held a conference call with a small group of officials who are or who have previously been identified with the Republican Party, according to sources who were on the call.

The initiative to highlight the backing of “Obamacans” is in its infancy. But campaign events featuring Republicans praising Obama are seen as an effective counterpunch to Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (I-Conn.) aggressive backing of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) White House bid.

Republicans, and former Republicans, backing Obama discussed in the article include Lincoln Chafee, Douglas Kmiec (a professor at the Pepperdine University School of Law who was co-chairman of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign’s Committee for the Courts and the Constitution), Susan Eisenhower, Larry Hunter (a former adviser to President Reagan and president of the Social Security Institute), and Jack Holt (Texas businessman and former Marine). They also mention Chuck Hagel and Colin Powell as Republicans who have not yet endorsed Obama but who might do so in the future. They also asked Zell Miller who he is supporting this year, but have not received a response.

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