Après Colin Powell, le deluge.
All sorts of people are announcing their endorsements of Barack Obama in the final days of the campaign. (Not everyone. Al Qaeda backs McCain.)
A particularly memorable one came out yesterday from Houston. Evangelist K.A. Paul has announced his support of Barack Obama's candidacy. He did so with some pretty, well, damming words for George W. Bush.
Paul's three reasons for backing Obama:
"Number one, speaking from an evangelical perspective, the current administration, I believe, has delayed the second coming of Jesus. Since the Iraq war, missionaries have been forced out of many countries, their work unfinished. As it says in Matthew 24:14, "the gospel will be preached in the whole world." The Bush administration's Iraq war policy has been in direct contradiction to Matthew.
"Secondly, as I travel around the globe, it is apparent that America's image is at historic lows. Senator Obama can change this trend and help restore our country to where we are once again respected around the world.
"And my third reason is that four more years of Bush-like economics, which I believe Senator McCain represents, will turn our current crisis into a full blown economic disaster. Senator Obama can restore confidence and vibrancy to our economy."
I'm more on board with Paul's second and third reasons for backing Obama, but it is nice to see an evangelical Texan laying out how Bush's Iraq policy is in "direct contradiction" to his values.
Whether endorsements sway voters or are lagging indicators behind the will of the people is an open question. Either way, this is another of many signs that we have an excellent opportunity to not just elect a Democratic president, but have a wave of Democratic victories in Congress that will force the Republican Party to reconsider its direction in the years to come.
It is an opportunity too great to squander. Let's work to get it done.