Obama campaign attracting disenchanted Republicans
'Obamacans' could be out in force for Texas open primary on March 4.
By Scott Shepard
WASHINGTON BUREAU
Austin Statesman-American
Monday, February 25, 2008
WASHINGTON — Ronald Reagan had his "Reagan Democrats." And now, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has turned the tables on the Republican Party with his "Obamacans," disaffected Republicans who are flocking to the Democratic presidential candidate the way disenchanted Democrats backed Reagan, though in smaller numbers.
And in the March 4 Texas Democratic presidential primary, which is open to Republicans, Obamacans could be out in force. An Obamacan Web site, www.republicansforobama.org, already has a petition drive under way to line up Republicans for Obama in Texas.
Former Marine Jack Holt, a technology businessman from Austin who has supported President Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain in the past with his votes and money, is so taken with Obama that he's close to taking the final step, from lifelong Republican to Democrat.
"You could say I'm just about there," Holt, 44, said Friday as he organized a weekend three-mile run/walk fundraising event in Austin for Obama.
"For me, the Republican Party has become so ugly and so arrogant, I don't want to have any part of it," he said.
Obama "has broad appeal" and is "a candidate who articulates what everyone wants for our country," he said.
Throughout the Democratic presidential contest, Obama has drawn Republicans into the party's primaries and caucuses in small but significant numbers. And in virtually every case, Obama has won an overwhelming majority of Republicans voting in the Democratic contests. For example, 72 percent of the Wisconsin Republicans who voted in the state's Democratic primary backed Obama, compared with 28 percent for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
(Continued here.)
By Scott Shepard
WASHINGTON BUREAU
Austin Statesman-American
Monday, February 25, 2008
WASHINGTON — Ronald Reagan had his "Reagan Democrats." And now, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has turned the tables on the Republican Party with his "Obamacans," disaffected Republicans who are flocking to the Democratic presidential candidate the way disenchanted Democrats backed Reagan, though in smaller numbers.
And in the March 4 Texas Democratic presidential primary, which is open to Republicans, Obamacans could be out in force. An Obamacan Web site, www.republicansforobama.org, already has a petition drive under way to line up Republicans for Obama in Texas.
Former Marine Jack Holt, a technology businessman from Austin who has supported President Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain in the past with his votes and money, is so taken with Obama that he's close to taking the final step, from lifelong Republican to Democrat.
"You could say I'm just about there," Holt, 44, said Friday as he organized a weekend three-mile run/walk fundraising event in Austin for Obama.
"For me, the Republican Party has become so ugly and so arrogant, I don't want to have any part of it," he said.
Obama "has broad appeal" and is "a candidate who articulates what everyone wants for our country," he said.
Throughout the Democratic presidential contest, Obama has drawn Republicans into the party's primaries and caucuses in small but significant numbers. And in virtually every case, Obama has won an overwhelming majority of Republicans voting in the Democratic contests. For example, 72 percent of the Wisconsin Republicans who voted in the state's Democratic primary backed Obama, compared with 28 percent for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
(Continued here.)
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