(CNN) - From the politics/strange bedfellows file: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has won an endorsement from Republican and former Nixon Watergate figure William D. Ruckelshaus.
Ruckelshaus was serving as deputy attorney general in 1973 when he made history as part of the infamous Saturday Night Massacre. He and his boss, Attorney General Elliot Richardson, were fired after they refused Nixon’s order to dismiss the independent counsel investigating the Watergate break-ins.
The former Nixon FBI director and secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency hopes to help Obama defeat Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton in the May 6 primary in Ruckelshaus’ homestate of Indiana. The state has been a longtime Republican stronghold in presidential politics.
“Senator Obama’s ability to attract not only Democrats, but also Republicans and Independents, makes him uniquely qualified to build the broad coalitions needed to address our nation’s challenges,” said Ruckelshaus in a statement.
Obama leads Clinton in Indiana 40 percent to 35 percent, with a 25 percent of respondents saying they’re unsure who they’ll vote for, according to a Los Angeles Times poll conducted April 10-14. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The Obama campaign said it was embracing the endorsement because of Ruckelshaus’ "understanding of the importance of transparency,” which he gained during the tumultuous years of the Nixon administration, said Obama spokesman Kevin Griffis. Ruckelshaus remains a known and respected name in Indiana, which may draw independent voters to Obama, Griffis said.
From CNN Politics
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This is terrible journalism. Sensationist headlines like this are really not needed at essential times such as these.
CNN: WHY IS MY 2:58 pm COMMENT STILL AWAITING MODERATION???
And the Obama train will keep rolling all the way to the white house in November
Obama 2008
I am not a Crook! And I don't tell Lie's.... Obama, where is you're Shame..... It will all come out now, now you have told how you made 4 Million on the Sale of you're Book... What Book??? Everybody will be reading it now...
"Any red-blooded American who would back Obama, is no American at all!"
I guess my blood must be another color then.
obama is like neo from the matrix,- he is the one!!! why would hillary during last nights debate commit the united states will go to war for israel if its ever attacked? dont we have a constituition that only allows us to go to war when we are attacked? is israel a part of the united states now? she is dangerous, naive and more reckless than bush, she should never be allowed near the white house and the button.
Even old line Republicans don`t trust McCain and these modern "spend like there`s no tomorrow" Republicans
Stud April 17th, 2008 2:09 pm ET
The trains leaving and Hillary supporters are being left behind!
Yeah, keep saying that we are left behind. If Obama is the nominee, we will be left behind in the general election too. Need Votes? Well you sure are not getting ours. LOL
BarbCanadam paul and the others who say he is backing Obama because Obama will lose to McCain...
Have you not heard of Operation Chaos?? It is a well established FACT that the right wing wants to run against Hillary, not Obama, because they will OBLITERATE her with all the baggage from the Clinton years (Obama does not bring up that stuff because he is trying to run a different kind of campaign; that hardly means it isn't there, just waiting for the Republicans to pounce). That's why Republicans are crossing over as "spoilers" in the Dem primary to vote for Hillary. This is not a theory, or a secret.
I really think that Hillary is Bi-Polar and should be on meds.
Does Hillary wear flag pin?
Count on Obama being asked in the next ABC debate: "So Obama, CNN reports that you were, in fact, responsible for Watergate. Can you unequivocally denounce and reject your connection to William Ruckelshaus?"
Seems like Hillary supporters have something in common with small town folks with a disintegrating economy.....bitterness.
Aware – clearly you dont read the news. McCain himself said hes rooting for Hillary. You dont think the Republicans have been waiting for this moment? They knew hillary had aspirations for the white house in the 90's, they would love nothing more to tear her apart. I mean she will cry again to soften the blow.
However, Republicans dont care about tears.
Loved ABC.
Finally a news channel who WAS NOT AFRAID to ask media darling Obama "The Almighty" hard questions.
Obama was exposed as hypocritical, unskilled when unscripted and this race needs to go on. Thanks to Clinton (and I do not even like the woman) she has been able to hang on and prolong this race to expose Obama as the inexperienced rhetoric spewing amateur he truly is and those in the democratic party should be thankful that these ugly truths are being exposed NOW and not in the general election.
Meanwhile, the ghost of another Watergate figure, H. R. Haldeman, announced his support for Hillary Clinton, citing her "willingness to do what it takes to get the job done."
SUPER DELIGATES ARE NOT NAIVE LIKE YOU YOUNG O.B. SUPPORTERS. THEY KNOW ITS OUR COUNTRY THAT THEIR PUTTING IN A CANIDATE'S HANDS. O.B. IS JUST NOT QUALIFIED ,AND HAS NO TRACK RECORD. HELPING CHURCH COMMUNITIES ISNT A TRACK RECORD FOR BEING A LEADER OF A COUNTRY. GET REAL.
Obama has definitely attracted this Republican from Oklahoma.
Thank you Wiliam Ruckelshaus. Wow a Republican with a conscience and it seems he doesn't have a question about the good Senators patriotism. Well done sir.
Yes We Can & Yes We Should
Obama 08'
Good, building a winning coalition is important for success.
Chuck Hagel ... are you listening?
Go Barack '08/12
Hillary....just say ouch. We know that hurt. Do what we did in grade school when we lost a fight....yell "I give up" "i give up"
Fred,
Did you read the article? This guy was not a crook. He was fired by Nixon because Nixon wanted him get rid of a independent counsel that was investigating Watergate. He was one of the good guys. Oh, I forgot you don't really care about the actual issues you and your fellow Clinton supporters just like to attack attack attack. Just like your hero Billary. By the way, its not working.
Thanks, Mr. R. because of you, I am proud of being a Hoosier again!
this guy stood up to Nixon and the Watergate mess. Ruckelshaus is a hero.
I love how all you Hillary supporters will vote for McCain in November if your "girl" does not win the nomination. All it does is set the Repulicans up for a sweep in November and McCain can continue the war and appoint Supreme Court Judges to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Hillary!! THANKS FOR DESTROYING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!!! WOOOO!!!
MCCAIN/HILLARY 08!!! (The Dream ticket of the Old & Bitter)