This is fantastic news.  Senator McCain will be endorsed by Tom Kean, the former governor of NJ and chairman of the 9/11 commission…

NBC News has learned that Tom Kean Sr. will endorse McCain tomorrow. There is a 2:30 p.m. press conference in Boston scheduled to officially make the announcement. Kean is a former governor of New Jersey and chair of the 9-11 Commission.

NBC News has also learned that McCain will “likely” be headed to Iraq for Thanksgiving. Details are still in the works but the campaign is 95 percent sure he will be there Wednesday through the weekend.

Baseball player Curt Schilling, pitcher for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, endorsed John McCain on a talk radio program…

“I gotta go with McCain,” said Schilling. “As we get through this, and we start to hear things, I’m not voting party line anymore. I’m voting for the guy that I know is going to be the same person four years from now that he was when [he was] elected. I need to trust somebody because I don’t agree with anybody’s platform front to back. I just need to know that the person that I’m putting in the office is not going to… people don’t want to hear this but President Bush has stayed very true to what he’s wanted, and what he’s done, and I just think the office is bigger than any one person. I need somebody that I can trust to do right by the country and stick to their guns.”

Today, in honor of Veteran’s Day, the campaign has announced that over 80 distinguished former prisoners of war are backing Senator McCain…

U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced the endorsement of nearly 80 former prisoners of war. Among the former POWs declaring their support for John McCain are admirals, generals, Medal of Honor recipients, executives, professors, authors and doctors. The average length of captivity for this group exceeds six years.

“John McCain is a remarkable patriot and leader,” said Captain Mike Cronin, USN (Ret.). “John embodies the qualities of honor, integrity, loyalty and courage that are part of our nation’s military tradition. No other candidate running for president is more qualified or more capable of leading our great country in these challenging times.” Cronin is fellow Naval Academy graduate and was a POW for six years.

To read the rest of the press release and see the full list of former POWs for McCain, click here.

In addition to the support of Senator Brownback, much of the Brownback for President organization seems to be moving behind McCain.  It started with Dr. Jerry Zandstra  and now the former head of Brownback’s South Carolina organization has come out for McCain… 

U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that David Barron, former chairman of Senator Sam Brownback’s presidential campaign in South Carolina, has endorsed John McCain for President of the United States.

“I firmly believe the Republican Party can retain the White House without putting political expediency above our conservative principles,” said Barron. “John McCain is the only consistent conservative candidate, with a 24-year record of protecting life, who can defeat Senator Hillary Clinton next November. I am proud to endorse John McCain and I look forward to working hard to make sure this true American hero becomes our next President.”

(more…)

This is huge news… Senator and former Presidential candidate Sam Brownback has decided to endorse John McCain for President.

Senator Brownback’s credentials will go a long way to boosting McCain’s standing with social conservatives.  In addition, the Brownback organization in Iowa will be a great asset now that the McCain campaign has made it clear that they’re going to compete in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Here’s some video from the big announcement:

PART ONE…

PART TWO…

A Red State blogger named Charles Bird has come off the fence and is now supporting John McCain for President.

It’s not the most well-written or even positive endorsement, but support is support. And the more support we can drum up in the blogosphere, the better!

Click here to read his article.