Yet another Republican for Obama: Charles Fried

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Don't expect the likes of Krazy Bill Kristol or Charles Krauthammer, or even David Brooks, to switch allegiance anytime soon, or ever, but the list of Republicans -- and fairly high-profile ones -- coming out for Obama is getting longer and longer:

• Colin Powell
• Ken Adelman
• Arne Carlson
• William Weld

Now it's distinguished conservative intellectual Charles Fried, solicitor general during Reagan's second term and currently a law professor at Harvard -- oh, and until just recently a member of the McCain campaign.

Cass Sunstein at The Plank:

This week, Fried announced that he has voted for Obama-Biden by absentee ballot. In his letter to Trevor Potter, the General Counsel to the McCain-Palin campaign, he asked that his name be removed from the several campaign-related committees on which he serves. In that letter, he said that chief among the reasons for his decision "is the choice of Sarah Palin at a time of deep national crisis."

As with Weld's endorsement, Fried's announcement won't change many minds or otherwise make much of a difference, but it's yet another sign both of Obama's incredible appeal and of a Republican Party in collapse.

(Hey, at least Bush voted for McCain. Woo-hoo!)

Jason Zengerle wonders who the next "Obamacon" might be: Michael Brown? Tom Kean? George Pataki? Gordon Smith? (Jason picks Pataki.)

I doubt it'll be a prominent current office-holder. Maybe another of Bush I's foreign policy team? How about Brent Scowcroft? (Has he endorsed yet?)