Not sure if this was timed to go with the Republicans for Obama rollout but it certainly carries alot of weight as most people agree that it's the Mayors who have the political muscle...
Republican Mayor Jim Whitaker has said he is endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.
“My goal is to let Republicans have a clear understanding that their right to vote should not be restricted by any party affiliation,” the borough mayor said. He said the economic and political challenges facing the state and country are broader than political parties alone can address and suggested Republicans should consider crossing party lines by focusing on the strongest candidate this year.
Whitaker, a former state lawmaker, said a comparison of Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain leads him to believe Obama has the stronger “intellectual capacity” and a greater ability to manifest it.
Whitaker, who as a politician has often focused on energy issues, said he sensed an open-minded approach in Obama’s campaign toward traditional, alternative and renewable energy issues that can benefit resource-rich Alaska.
This is especially good news considering just how in play Alaska remains this year. It's been a while since an endorsement has really perked my interest, but considering what Alaska could be (i.e. surprise sleeper state victory) this is great news.
This is in addition to the new push for Republicans for Obama. Is there a new Drip Drip Drip underway?
The former Iowa GOP representative explains his backing of Obama on morning media call, says campaign will be actively courting Republicans with new push.
“I have no doubt that his is the leadership we need and that the world is crying out for.”
Jim Leach is a major grab in Iowa, a key state for any Obama victory plan.
Former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach, a Republican, endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama this morning. "Like many, I'm astounded at Barack Obama's meteoric rise as a candidate, but I have no doubt that his is the leadership we need and that the world is crying out for," Leach said during a telephone conference call with reporters, arranged by the Obama campaign. "I also have no doubt that a lot of Republicans and independents are going to be attracted to his call for a new era of non-ideological, bipartisan decision-making."
Leach, a Davenport native who moved to Iowa City in 2002, lost his bid for re-election in 2006 after three decades representing portions of eastern Iowa in congress. Leach is considered a "moderate" Republican. "Basdically from my perspective, this is simply not a time for politics as usual," Leach said. "The portfolio of issues that are going to be passed on to the next president will be as daunting as any since the Great Depression and World War II and that means that the case for inspiring new political leadership and a social ethic has seldom been more self-evident."
Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, says Leach's decision mirrors that of many Iowa Republicans who've left their party, as there are now 90-thousand more Democrats in Iowa than Republicans on the voter registration record. "It seems to me that there are some big shifts going on in this state," Harkin says. "...The people of Iowa are saying that they want to give the Democrats a chance."
Harkin spoke with reporters this morning to mark the opening of six Obama campaign offices in what the Obama campaign described as rural areas of the state. The offices are in Carroll, Grinnell, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Muscatine and Spencer. "I can tell you Senator Obama is not taking this state for granted," Harkin said. "...We're going to have to work for it and we intend to do so and we intend to earn every vote."
Iowa remains extremely important FYI... part of what 538.com coined as the Obama Firewall of Colorado, Iowa and New Mexico (smoothest path to victory)
It's Colorado and Iowa, along with New Mexico, that form Obama's firewall. If Obama holds the Kerry states but wins those three, he doesn't need to win Ohio, Florida, or any of the higher degree-of-difficulty states. And so far, Obama's lead in these states has been very consistent. In 16 Iowa polls conducted since Super Tuesday, Obama has led all 16. In 11 New Mexico polls over the time span, he has led 9, been tied in one, and trailed in the other. And in 14 polls of Colorado, he has led 11 times, trailed twice, and been tied once.
Alaska by the way is still tipped to be a Likely GOP state, however with not alot of polling and an actual Obama field presence in the state (4 confirmed field offices) and the Bob Barr factor unknown presently, anything could happen...
Learn more about Alaska for Obama
And Iowa of course...
Or the state you live in
UPDATE: New Poll out this afternoon showing a very very interesting finding
Obama: 45%
McCain: 40%
Nader: 2%
Hayes Research