Former Republican senator criticizes McCain, supports Obama

by The Grand Rapids Press
Thursday October 09, 2008

GRAND RAPIDS -- Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican U.S. senator from Rhode Island, is throwing his support behind Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying he is disillusioned with Republican John McCain.

"Sen. Obama is the first Democrat I've ever voted for," Chafee said during a stop in Grand Rapids this morning.

He criticized McCain for pandering to the Republican Party's right wing, a strategy he said is dividing the nation and would make it difficult for McCain to govern.

"As he geared up for this 2008 election, it became a different John McCain who was pandering to the base," said Chafee. "That's what McCain is doing: dividing this country."

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