GOP Ex-Los Angeles Mayor Riordan Endorses Obama

[BlueJessamine]

Source: SFGate

California Republican Richard Riordan, the millionaire businessman and former mayor of Los Angeles, has announced he's endorsing Barack Obama for president.

The GOP philanthropist -- who was a 2002 gubernatorial candidate -- said he'll be at the opening of Obama headquarters today in Santa Monica to mark the occasion.

''We want the best person to be president of the United States, whether they are Republican or Democrat, and clearly Obama is the best candidate,'' said Riordan, a former state secretary of education, adviser to and long-time supporter of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is backing John McCain.

''Senator Obama is the kind of leader we need to get us through these tough economic times.''



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=30430

[JDPriestly]

1. I nearly fainted upon reading this. He is a liberal Republican, but very Republican.

[Bette Noir]

2. Good Lord!

Has Hell frozen over?

[democrat2thecore]

3. Welcome aboard! Plenty of seats......nt

[MaineDem]

4. Who needs a titled witch from London when we have Riordan?

Good get!

[Merlot]

5. Wow. That should turn a few repubs heads here in California

and maybe a few indies as well.

I personally didn't care much for Riordian, but he at least didn't make my skin crawl as some repubs do. I think he was pretty popular as mayor.

[happygoluckytoyou]

6. ARNOLD IS BACKIN MCCAIN.... won't "upset" the party.... SARAH PALIN has bigger BALLS

[4lbs]

7. It's ok. Ahhhhnold's wife supports Obama.

So, their votes will cancel each other out.

[truebrit71]

8. Wow...that IS interesting...

...amazing!

[davidinalameda]

9. Secretary of Education in President Obama's cabinet

[JuniperLea]

10. Now THERE's a Maverick!

I've had the pleasure of meeting Dick Riordan on a number of occassions, and he never failed to get me to laugh... and to think. This is no surprise to me at all. This had Dick Riordan all over it! I've heard him say many times that he has never trusted McCain since dealing with him on several political and legislative issues. Dick is a conservative, fiscally responsible Republican in a very old school way... he and his ilk need to take their party back from the neocons.

Go Dick!