Kirk Dillard who is a Republican and a McCain delegate is taking the heat for praising Obama

[Hope And Change]

Kirk Dillard served with Obama in the Illinois state Senate, as in this file photo from July 23, 2004.
Photo: AP

Barack Obama’s accidental surrogate

By BEN ADLER | 7/18/08 4:39 AM EST

If you’ve read enough profiles of Barack Obama, chances are you’re familiar with the name Kirk Dillard. An accomplished and articulate legislator who served with Obama in the Illinois state Senate, he is frequently called on by the national media to shed light on the presumptive Democratic nominee’s early days in politics.

Dillard is an unabashed admirer, one whose high praise for Obama led the campaign to feature him in Obama’s first biographical television ad.

All of that wouldn’t be so unusual except for the fact that Dillard is a Republican. And a delegate for John McCain.

Now, as a result of his willingness to regularly offer an unvarnished take on Obama’s Springfield years, Dillard is facing some serious blowback within his own party.

Much of the resentment stems from Dillard’s starring role in the Obama commercial, which aired long into the primary season and burnished Obama’s bipartisan credentials in six states, including Iowa.


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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11853.html

[rateyes]

1. I'd have taken that letter, torn it up, and directed the

writer where to put it---and, it wouldn't be in the trash can.