Following the announcement of high-profile Hillary supporter, Lynn Forester de Rothschild’s endorsement of John McCain, two more Clintonistas endorsed the McCain-Palin ticket last week. On a McCain campaign conference call with reporters on Friday, September 19, Miguel D. Lausell, Senior Political Advisor to Hillary Clinton, and Clinton Delegate-at-Large, Luchy Secaira endorsed McCain-Palin. The McCain campaign issued the following press release:

ARLINGTON, VA — The McCain-Palin presidential campaign today announced the endorsement of Miguel D. Lausell, Senior Political Advisor to Hillary Clinton, and Clinton Delegate-at-Large Luchy Secaira.

“Although I supported Hillary during the primaries, I now support John McCain and Governor Palin because I am putting my country first,” said Secaira, former Hillary Clinton Florida Delegate-at-Large. “They have the experience and judgment to lead America through these difficult times, and I trust them to work with Democrats to do the right thing for our country.”

Lausell, who advised Senator Clinton on a variety of issues including international trade, telecommunications and Latino affairs, added, “John McCain has a long record of reforming government and working across the aisle to achieve bipartisan results. His courageous leadership is exactly what we need in the White House, and I am convinced that John McCain is the right leader at the right time for our nation.”

Both Lausell and Secaira supported Sen. Hillary Clinton during the primaries, but they will campaign for the McCain-Palin ticket.

Lausell has served as President and CEO of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company; Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Telephone Authority; a member of the Governor of Puerto Rico’s Economic Strategic Council; President of the Export Policy Commission of Puerto Rico; and Undersecretary of the Department of the Treasury of Puerto Rico. He served on the National Finance Board of the Gore 2000 Committee and was a member of the Democratic National Committee’s Leadership 2000 Board.

Secaira, who is of Dominican descent, traveled to eight states to coordinate grassroots efforts for Senator Clinton, has a doctorate of neuropsychology and was trained at New York University.

Both Lausell and Secaira have ties within the Latino community and will have some sway on Latino voters that went solidly for Hillary Clinton during the primaries. They share concerns about Obama’s lack of experience and track record. Secaira specifically cited the pay inequities within Obama’s Senate office. She said that:

[Obama's] stance on women’s issues is all talk and no action. Secaira said that Obama’s rhetoric on the Equal Pay Act is not backed up with hiring practices in his Senate office. “We need to look no further than Sen. Obama’s own senate office, where it’s been documented that he pays women less on his staff than males on his staff,” said Secaira. “He talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk.”

They both expressed their outraged over Obama’s latest Spanish-language ad, “Dos Caras.”

Obama’s latest Spanish-language ad, “Dos Caras,” which linked McCain to Rush Limbaugh’s offensive remarks about the Hispanic community. Secaira said this type of ad contrasts Obama’s image of being an agent of change through unification. “I don’t see anything new about put-down politics …This [ad] proves that he’s not a uniter; he’s a divider. Sen. Obama, along with the Democratic leadership, has divided the party. And this is his tactic. This is his M.O,” said Secaira. “Otro pero con ese hueso.” Translation: “to another dog with that bone.”
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“The Hispanic community has nothing to fear, because they know John McCain,” Secaira added. “He has fought against his own party on behalf of the Hispanic community and was an integral part in trying to bring forth comprehensive immigration reform.”

I wonder how many more Hillary supporters we will see defecting to McCain in the coming weeks. I’m betting at least two more top supporters make a very public conversion.

Crossposted at Alegre’s Corner