According to a source in the Obama campaign, former Iowa Congressman
Jim Leach -- a Republican -- will be endorsing Democratic presidential
candidate Barack Obama this morning. Leach, as you may recall, lost
his bid for re-election in 2006 after three decades representing
portions of eastern Iowa in congress. Leach was considered a
"moderate" Republican and was a backer of campaign finance reform.
Leach did not accept campaign contributions from political action
committees. Leach became a professor at his alma mater -- Princeton --
and then was asked to be the interim director of Harvard University's
Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government when its
director left to run for the U.S. Senate. The institute's new director
is to start September 1, 2008. Leach's wife has contributed the
maximum amount allowed to Obama's campaign.

Labels: Barack_Obama, Jim_Leach