What a difference four years makes — especially if you're former Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama. He's gone from being a key supporter of President Barack Obama to losing the Democratic primary for Alabama's governorship to a more liberal candidate to becoming the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against the Affordable Care Act and the 2007 Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
And here's the kicker: The political chameleon, who told The Root shortly after he officially switched parties, "At the end of the day, being in the Republican Party feels like a more comfortable ideological home for me," is now signed up to deliver a speech and endorse Mitt Romney, right at the heart of his new comfort zone at this month's GOP convention. The Washington Post reports:
Former congressman Artur Davis, who officially seconded President Obama's nomination at the 2008 Democratic convention, said Wednesday that he will cap a remarkable political metamorphosis by addressing the Republican convention this month — calling for Obama's defeat.
Davis, 44, who served in the House as a Democrat from Alabama from 2003 to 2011, said in a telephone interview that he has been given a speaking slot at the Aug. 27-30 Republican convention in Tampa. He said he was not sure yet of the day on which he would speak.
But Davis said he planned to speak for millions of Americans who, like him, had traced a path from hope to disillusionment with Obama. After spending his entire political career as a Democrat, Davis declared in May that he has become a Republican.
"The one thing that I can bring to the table is to be something of a voice for that group of people," Davis said in announcing his speaking slot.
Davis has since become a vocal advocate for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Virginia, where he now lives. On Wednesday, he spoke on Romney's behalf at an event in Ballston, attacking Vice President Biden for a recent comment that Republicans would put voters "back in chains."
Read The Root's interview with Artur Davis on why he left the Democratic Party here.
Read more at the Washington Post.