Like Rats Fleeing a Sinking Ship...

Another Republican has switched sides to endorse Barack Obama. But this isn't just anyone. This is someone who, until very recently, worked for the McCain campaign. Charles Fried, Solicitor General under Ronald Reagan, has not just endorsed Obama, he has already voted for him. Fried has additionally requested that the McCain campaign remove his name from several campaign committees that he has served on since he "felt it wrong to appear to be recommending to others a vote that I was not prepared to cast myself". (H/T to TPM).  Fried also stated that the primary reason for his vote for Obama was McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate.

This is a mantra heard again and again by Republicans who are endorsing Obama.  They believe that the choice of Palin has been a colossal mistake that cannot be overlooked.  There's a growing buzz out here in the blogosphere that Palin is starting to distant herself from McCain, or conversely that McCain is doing the distancing.  Whichever is true, speculation grows.  There is talk that Palin has stopped listening to McCain advisors.  Other speculate that McCain is regretting his choice of Palin and looking to blame her for his problems.  

There are growing lists of Republicans endorsing Obama.  And these are only the folks who make the headlines.  What of the moderate Republicans out there in our great nation who hoped for a candidate that would revitalize their party and bring back balance?  Are they switching to Obama?  There will be no clear way to tell until November 5.  

But let us hope as the boat that is the McCain campaign flounders on the shoals, that more and more thinking people come to the same conclusion that Charles Fried did.

Obama/Biden '08