Former Q-C congressman Jim Leach backs Obama

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By Ed Tibbetts | Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:58 AM CDT | () comments

Republican Congressman Jim Leach held a town hall meeting at Muscatine Community College in Muscatine. (TIMES FILE PHOTO) Buy this Photo

UPDATED: Former Republican congressman Jim Leach endorsed Barack Obama’s presidential bid today, a move that will surely surprise some people in a state where the Davenport native has been associated with GOP politics for 30 years.

Leach said Obama offered inspiring new leadership and a more internationalist approach to foreign policy.

“Above anything else, I’m convinced the national interest requires a new approach to our interactions with the world,” he said.

Leach, a moderate leader in Congress, represented eastern Iowa for 30 years, all but five years from a base in Scott County.

The former congressman has had his differences with the Bush administration in recent years. He opposed the war in Iraq and also broke with the administration on some of its tax cuts.

On a conference call today, Leach said he honored Republican hopeful John McCain’s contributions to the United States but said there’s a “sense of angst” that he might represent a continuation of the Bush policies.

Leach is the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was joined by former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island and ex-White House intelligence adviser Rita Hauser on the conference call, which was arranged by the Obama campaign.

The campaign announced the formation of a new group, Republicans for Obama. And Leach and the others said they would be joined by other moderates. A Web site also is being set up to promote their views.

Leach’s endorsement of Obama could help him in eastern Iowa, where many of the state’s swing voters live. Iowa is considered a battleground state, and Leach won 14 elections by drawing support from across the political spectrum.

He represented Scott County until the 2001 redistricting prompted him to move to Iowa City. He lost a re-election bid two years ago to Democrat Dave Loebsack.

Dave Roederer, the chairman of McCain’s campaign in Iowa, said he isn’t surprised at the endorsement, nor does he think it will make a difference.

“Jim's a friend and I respect Jim,” Roederer said, but he added: “He's been a strong opponent of the war, which somewhat led to his defeat and that's why he's a former congressman. ... Obama wants to do a cut and run and I can see why Jim would be in agreement with that."

Leach’s endorsement comes after his wife, Elisabeth, donated to Obama. She gave $1,250 to the Illinois senator this year, according to Federal Election Commission records. The former congressman was not listed as a financial contributor.

Asked about Obama’s controversial decision to opt out of the public financing system for elections, Leach, a leader in the campaign finance reform effort, said he preferred public financing. However, he said, Obama’s decision to forgo political action committee money is more important. Leach also refused PAC donations.

McCain has criticized Obama for the decision, calling it a pivotal moment in the campaign.

While endorsing a Democrat, Leach said Obama’s platform “is rooted in very old American values that are as much a part of the Republican as the Democratic tradition.”

He cited Obama’s support for individual rights and balance at home and “progressive internationalism abroad.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com. Comment on this article at qctimes.com.

Former Q-C congressman Jim Leach to back Obama

EARLIER STORY: Former Iowa congressman Jim Leach is scheduled to endorse Barack Obama for president today, according to the Democrat’s campaign.

Leach, a Davenport native who served in Congress for 30 years, is scheduled to be among three people on a “Republicans for Obama” conference call. The others are ex-Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chaffee and former White House intelligence adviser Rita Hauser.

Leach was a leader among moderate Republicans in Congress until he lost his re-election bid two years ago.

His wife, Elisabeth, has donated $1,250 to Obama’s campaign, according to recently filed Federal Election Commission reports.

“Across the country Democrats, independents, and Republicans are coming together in support of Senator Obama to bring change to Washington,” the Obama campaign said in a statement announcing the conference call.

Iowa is considered a battleground state and the eastern half, which Leach represented, is home to a lot of swing voters. His endorsement could be a boon to the Obama campaign, which already is buoyed by a sizable lead over Republicans in voter registration.

Leach represented the Davenport area until after the 2001 redistricting. He then moved to Iowa City to represent the 2nd Congressional District.