FORMER US Consul Bob Farmer has ditched his support for Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama ¿ and switched allegiances to rival Hillary Clinton.

Mr. Farmer, who served as the US Government's representative on the island between 1994 and 1999, announced his support for Mrs. Clinton in an article in The Washington Post earlier this month.

Mr. Farmer, a multi-millionaire renowned for his fundraising skills who has close ties with the Clintons, said he originally sided with Mr. Obama because "his freshness and message are appealing".

"I had read his books and agreed with his ideas on governance and the role of the president. I believe that he is a great talent and will be a major player in our party for decades to come," Mr. Farmer said.

"I also believe that if Barack Hussein Obama became president, the rest of the world would look at our country differently, perhaps helping to repair the damage the Bush administration has done to our global reputation.

"Seven months ago, despite my affection for the Clintons, I did not feel that Hillary Clinton was electable.

"My role as national campaign treasurer has been not to raise money personally but to sign up fundraisers, to encourage them to maximise their efforts and to make them feel part of the candidate's political family. Last year I sent e-mails to the 400 most effective fundraisers in the country announcing my support of Obama and asking about their interest in becoming involved with his campaign. I received 100 positive responses.

"But late last year I realised I had made the wrong decision. The opportunity for the Democrats to recapture the White House is real. The Bush administration squandered much of the goodwill toward America after September 11, 2001, and, given the events of the past four years, it would be tragic if we selected a nominee who falls short in the general election.

"And Obama is still largely untested and inexperienced. Even looking at his success in Iowa, I think that Hillary Clinton is more electable.

"Obama is attractive, but he would be the object of an unbelievably negative advertising campaign. Hillary has already been vetted beyond imagination.

"It was not easy for me to conclude that I was wrong. Over the past several months I've talked to many people who also initially had doubts about Hillary but now think that she is the strongest candidate.

"Hillary Clinton has run a terrific campaign. She has been knowledgeable in the debates. She has the experience of having lived in the White House for eight years, and her husband the best president of my lifetime would provide excellent counsel.

"I believe that hers would be the strongest and most effective voice on education, the economy, energy policy, health care and foreign policy. She would be best at preserving Social Security. And she would hit the ground running.

"I have told those fundraisers whom I led to Obama that being able to see important changes and acknowledge electability is more important to my political ethics than consistency in the face of changing facts.

"I switched my allegiance because I think the most important thing I can do is work toward nominating the strongest candidate. It is vital that the Democrats win back the White House. I have been down this road many times, and I am confident that Hillary Clinton's experience and depth of knowledge best prepare her for winning during the difficult homestretch of a presidential campaign."

Mr. Farmer (pictured) was the finance chair of the Democratic National Committee during US President George H.W. Bush's administration. He was a top fundraiser for Michael Dukakis in 1988, Bill Clinton in 1992 and John Kerry in 2004.