BoatBanter.com - The Daily Snerk...

A longtime Republican State Senator in Wisconsin history announced on
Tuesday that she would be supporting Barack Obama, in part because of
the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign and, specifically, the
use of "dishonorable" anti-Obama robocalls.

"All of us should be extremely wary of the half truths and outright
untruths that have been spread by the recent negative campaigning and
shameful automated phone calls," said Barbara Lorman of Fort Atkinson.
"While my admiration for Senator Obama has grown with his positive
approach to addressing the challenges facing our nation, my
disappointment with the McCain campaigned has deepened. The negative
tactics are inappropriate, downright dishonorable and have no place in
the State of Wisconsin."

In issuing her statement, Lorman became the latest in a growing line of
GOP officials who have publicly denounced the recent tone and tactics of
the McCain camp. In recent days, Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and
Norm Coleman, as well as former Secretary of State Colin Powell, have
all been highly critical of the Arizona Republican's efforts to tie
Barack Obama to former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers. Lorman is
not, obviously, of the same national stature as these other officials.
But her place in Wisconsin politics makes her an influential voice in an
important swing state.

The fact that she is a lifelong Republican -- she left the Senate in
1994 and, until recently, was the longest woman serving senator in
Wisconsin history -- now crossing party lines is also of interest.

"I'm a lifelong Republican, but Senator Obama is the right leader for
our country and will deliver the change we need," Lorman said in a
statement released by the state's Democratic Party. "After taking a
careful look at the qualities of both McCain and Obama and who would be
best for our country, I found that Senator Obama's ability to bridge the
partisan divide to work toward solid solutions that will get our nation
back on the right track meant he is the right choice this November."