Gordon Brown backs Obama

This bit from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in The Parliamentary Monitor, a monthly magazine for British politicians and the readers who love them, is pretty much an endorsement of the Democratic nominee:

Around the world it is progressive politicians who are grappling with these challenges. … And in the electrifying US presidential campaign, it is the Democrats who are generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times. To help prevent people from losing their home, Barack Obama has proposed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to increase emergency pre-foreclosure counselling, and help families facing repossession.

Why would Brown take this unusual step? My guess is that the embattled prime minister — who’s about as popular as George W. Bush right now — is hoping some of that Obama magic will rub off on him.

But if you’re thinking that Brown’s likely successor, David Cameron, will now rush to endorse John McCain, dream on. Just last week, the Conservative Party leader was stressing how he is “no neo-con” and decrying what he described as Bush’s policy of imposing “democracy at the barrel of a gun.” Maybe he’ll support Ron Paul instead.

UPDATE: Through a spokesman, Brown denies endorsing Obama.