GOP Ex-Los Angeles Mayor Riordan Endorses Obama

[one...two...tree 2,762]

California Republican Richard Riordan, the millionaire businessman and former mayor of Los Angeles, has announced he's endorsing Barack Obama for president.

The GOP philanthropist -- who was a 2002 gubernatorial candidate -- said he'll be at the opening of Obama headquarters today in Santa Monica to mark the occasion.

''We want the best person to be president of the United States, whether they are Republican or Democrat, and clearly Obama is the best candidate,'' said Riordan, a former state secretary of education, adviser to and long-time supporter of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is backing John McCain.

''Senator Obama is the kind of leader we need to get us through these tough economic times.''

Riordan served as mayor of Los Angeles from 1993-2001, a period that included the early '90s' recession and the disasterous Northridge quake in 1994.

Long an advocate of education, he established the Riordan Foundation for literacy and was among the founders of a major after-school program in Los Angeles, BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow).

Currently a lecturer in the UCLA School of Business, Riordan also chairs the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools that oversees some of the Los Angeles area's best public high schools.

But folks on both sides of the aisle will recognize Riordan for another achievement on this resume: his purchase and longtime ownership of that fabulously colorful Los Angeles culinary institution, the Original Pantry Restaurant, which he saved from developers who intended to raze it.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate...;entry_id=30430

[IAMX 3,055]

It doesn't matter *posts GOP favorable poll*, the elections are already over, and Obama lost.

Suckers!

[almaty 19]

it is too late Palin got a new dress today////

[no name 1]

Ex-RINO mayor you mean....