Garrison Keillor, the folksy Minnesota humorist, author, and producer of Minnesota Public Radio's "A Prarire Home Companion", has endorsed Barack Obama for president.
The Associated Press quotes Keillor's endorsement:
"I'm happy to support your candidacy, which is so full of promise for our country," the best-selling author and humorist wrote in a letter declaring his support. "Seven years of a failed presidency is a depressing thing, and the country is pressing for a change and looking for someone with clear vision who is determined to break through the rhetorical logjam and find sensible ways to move our country forward. That's you, friend.
Keiller is definitely an old-style, New Deal coalition liberal.
Keiller's 2006 book Homegrown Democrat: A Few Plain Thoughts from the Heart of America explains, in authentic and personal terms, why the common man and woman of America needs the Democratic Party, and how the Republican Party is subverting those home-grown values.
Keiller speaks to both "latte-sipping liberals" (presumed to support Obama) and the older, more working-class traditional Democrats who are the mainstay of Hillary's support. Garrison Keillor's reassurance that Barack Obama, not Hillary, is the best way to achieve the core traditional goals of the Democratic Party -- support for the working man, helping the oppressed, and living by the Golden Rule -- will help Hillary's core supporters to see the promise of change and embrace Obama.
From Keillor's endorsement on BarackObama.com:
"I can't think of a happier prospect for next January than to see you and your wife and children stepping out on the platform in front of the Capitol for the inauguration. The sight of this will bring to an end a long sour chapter in our history. It will be an enormous moment. And of course it will be exciting to have a president who can speak with grace and power to the American people. Your campaign is a great tonic for America and that's why so many young people are excited about it. I congratulate you on your awesome achievement so far and pledge my support toward victory in November."
