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Former Senator Lincoln Chafee (Photo: CJ Gunther/Reuters)


MILWAUKEE – Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican Senator from Rhode Island, said today that he is changing party registration – at least on primary day next month – and endorsing Senator Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy.

“I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore American credibility, to restore our confidence to be moral and to bring people together to solve the complex issues such as the economy, the environment and global stability,” Mr. Chafee said in a conference call with reporters today.

Mr. Chafee, who lost his re-election bid in 2006 and became an independent last year, was one of the Senate’s most moderate Republicans. He served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with Mr. Obama.

The endorsement comes in advance of the Rhode Island primary on March 4, the same day as voters in Ohio and Texas help determine the Democratic presidential nominating fight. Mr. Chafee offered no guarantees on the power of his endorsement, but said he simply told Mr. Obama he believed he was the best candidate for the job.

“I said I’d do anything he wanted,” Mr. Chafee said, recounting his phone call to Mr. Obama on Tuesday, “and I was going to vote for him.”

In one regard, it is a curious choice. Two years ago, Senator John McCain came to Rhode Island to campaign on Mr. Chafee’s behalf. Mr. Obama campaigned for his opponent, Sheldon Whitehouse, who ultimately prevailed.

This year, Mr. Whitehouse supports Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. And Mr. McCain is on his way to winning the Republican nomination

Asked about switch of loyalties, Mr. Chafee said: “I’m sure Sen. McCain will understand.”