Republican Jim Leach praises Obama

DENVER, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Former Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, spoke passionately of his support for Barack Obama during the Democratic National Convention in Denver Monday.

"The change Barack Obama is advocating ... is a clarion call for renewal," said Leach, who represented Iowa from 1977-2007.

"America has seldom faced more critical choices" regarding its leadership, he said.

In Obama, Leach said the Democratic Party is "nominating a transcending candidate who will recapture the American dream and truly be a great president."

In introducing Leach, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin called him "a fellow Iowan, a thoughtful lifelong Republican" who supports Obama's presidency.

When talking about red states and blue states, Harkin said Leach knows "red and blue are not nearly as important as red, white and blue."