When people have asked me in the past about my pick for the presidential race, I’ve stated that “officially”, because I am running with no party affiliation, I wanted to stay out of that fray, and focus on this congressional race. “Unofficially,” I’ve made no secret here on my blog and elsewhere about my increasing dissatisfaction with Senator McCain’s platform and his choice of Governor Palin as his running-mate.

In the past week, events on my own campaign trail and elsewhere have made it clear to me that this is no longer a tenable position.

So, it’s official: I am backing Senator Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States of America.

While I still have some serious reservations about the ability of the national leadership of the Democratic party to chart a course away from partisan bickering, and the corrupt system of campaign financing and special interest money that currently plagues both parties in Washington, I believe Senator Obama is the best hope we have now for a President who can reverse the disastrous economic policies that continue to plunge this nation into crisis, resolve the war on terror, and restore America’s international standing around the world.

Another important factor that made me realize that it was time to clearly back Senator Obama was the fact that Robert Neeld, the current Democratic contender, has at least twice refused to speak up for the merits of his own party’s nominee.

First on Oct. 11th at a Forum held by the Military Officer Association of America. (You can check out the unedited video here at around the 16:00 min mark.)  And again, on Oct. 15th, at the forum of the Southwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association. (Video here at around the 11:40 min. point.)

The first time I was taken aback by Mr. Neeld’s lack of support for Obama, the second time I called him out because it is exactly the sort of hedging and triangulation that makes me leery of the Democratic leadership in the first place.

I realize supporting Senator Obama may not be the popular choice here in this district, and I want to assure everyone that this doesn’t at all mean that I’m giving up on my commitment to be a strong, independent voice for this district in congress. 

I have made it a point to say throughout this campaign that voting your conscience is never a wasted vote, and at this point I would be failing my own conscience if I did not speak out as a candidate for my own choice as well.

Regardless of who our next president is, he will need the support of a transparent and accountable congress that is willing to restore the constitutional system of checks and balances. As your congressman, my first commitment will always be to the people of this nation and to the American Constitution, not to any political party or whatever individual happens to hold executive office at the moment.