AP NewsBreak: Ex-GOP Sen. John Warner Endorses Dem

[hue]

Source: abc News

Former Republican Sen. John W. Warner on Monday endorsed his Democratic successor over a past national GOP chairman in the race for the U.S. Senate seat he held for 30 years.

Warner told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that he is supporting Sen. Mark Warner, who is being challenged by Ed Gillespie in November's election. The Warners are not related.

John Warner, a moderate, earned a reputation as a party maverick by bucking the conservatives who gradually won control of the GOP during his decades in office. He refused to endorse GOP home-schooling advocate Mike Farris for lieutenant governor and backed an independent candidate over Iran-Contra figure Oliver North in the 1994 race against Democratic Sen. Chuck Robb. But this is the first time he has endorsed a Democrat outright.

"There are times you must, I think, recognize that certain individuals are superior in their talents and in what they have done and can potentially do for your state," John Warner said.

He praised his successor, also a centrist, for seeking bipartisan solutions.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/ap-newsbreak-gop-sen-john-warner-endorses-dem-22235971

[Warren Stupidity]

1. The good news: R's breaking ranks. The bad news: D's have moved so far to the right

they get endorsements from Republicans.

[iandhr]

3. VA won't elect a progressive state wide

Mark Warner has been a 70-80% per cent friend to us. That does not make him at 20-30 per cent enemy.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. I get that, but it is impossible to elect progressives if they can't run.

[iandhr]

12. Yes they can.

We get people like Warren in Mass and Sanders in Vermont.

But if you have an opportunity in places in Georgia we go all in for Michelle Nunn.

[fujiyama]

15. For the capital of the Old Confederacy

and a once solid-republican state, I'd say this is HUGE progress.

VA was once considered a republican strong hold. All of its major state-wide offices are Democratic now. It reflects demographic changes, true - but also how far to the right Republicans have shifted.

Mark Warner, whatever his faults, was (from what I've heard) a fairly effective governor of the state, and at least wasn't a corrupt douchebag.

[DURHAM D]

2. Thank you Elizabeth Taylor... the gift who keeps on giving. nt

[underpants]

4. John Warner is also the reason there was never a Senator Ollie North

He convinced Marshall Coleman to run preventing Ollie from getting the votes he needed. Chuck Robb was re-elected.

Warner and George Allen bailed out the Va GOP after a disastrous lawsuit. Without their money the Va GOP would not exist.

Some good some bad.

[okaawhatever]

6. That is awesome. Virginia is a crucial state. The Senate majority hangs in the balance. Couldn't be

happier. This also may motivate other centrist Republicans to endorse Democrats over extremist Republican candidates as well.

[hrmjustin]

7. Glad to hear this.

[gopiscrap]

8. Excellent

[cosmicone]

9. I am going to visit free republic

I love the sound of freepers' heads exploding.

[JI7]

10. John Warner is a good man, he is the type of decent person that the republicans are losing

and why the party has gotten more extremist with the teabaggers having control.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

13. To be honest, endorsing anyone else would look stupid

Ed Gillespie is going to be trounced.

[TlalocW]

14. But what does actor, David Warner, think?

TlalocW