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Koch says Palin "scares" him, endorses Obama ticket

The Associated Press

September 10, 2008

Saying GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin "scares the hell out of me," ex-New York City Mayor Edward Koch endorsed fellow Democrat Barack Obama yesterday.

In 2004, Koch backed President George W. Bush for re-election, saying the Republican was better equipped to combat international terrorism than Democrat John Kerry.

Koch said he has concluded that the country would be safer in the hands of Obama and Joe Biden than John McCain and Palin.

"Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks," he said, citing such concerns as civil liberties, abortion rights, gay rights and access to health insurance. Koch said he is particularly troubled by Palin's record in those areas.