Defectors drawn to Obama's foreign policy
By Edward Luce by Washington
Published: August 13 2008 03:00 | Last updated: August 13 2008 03:00

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Barack Obama yesterday netted the endorsement of three prominent Republicans, including Jim Leach and Lincoln Chafee, both of whom lost their congressional seats to Democratic opponents in the 2006 mid-term elections.
The announcement boosts the ranks of so-called "Obamacans" and is likely to fuel speculation about the possibility of bigger names - such as Colin Powell, former secretary of state, and Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska - also endorsing the Democratic nominee.
Describing Mr Obama's call for change as "more renewal than departure" and thus in line with traditional conservative principles, Mr Leach said: "This is simply not a time for politics as usual . . . I have no doubt that a lot of Republicans will be attracted to Obama in spite of the flaws in this year's primary process."
The two Republicans, along with Rita Hauser, a former White House intelligence adviser, stressed foreign policy as their principal motivation for endorsing Mr Obama.
Ms Hauser described as "bellicose" the response of John McCain, the Republican nominee, to Russia's conflict with Georgia.
Most "Obamacans" come from the so-called realist wing of the Republican party which has fallen into deep disenchantment with the -foreign policy of George W. Bush, the president.