A Republican-turned-Independent, state Rep. Richard Singleton, disclosed to his House colleagues today that he has switched parties again so that he can lead “Democrats for McCain.’’

Having already announced that he is not running for reelection, Singleton, of Cumberland, said he went to Town Hall today to register as a Democrat so he could “head up a committee’’ to elect the Arizona Republican as the country’s next president.

“I think the state of Rhode Island can get behind John McCain. I think he can win this state and I think there are a lot of Democrats in this state who like him, so I think they need somebody to put together an organization to let them know it’s okay to vote for John McCain.’’

Asked if he was targeting disappointed Hillary Clinton supporters, he said: “They and many others. I already have about a dozen state legislators who are on the committee …They are not Republicans. They are all Democrats.’’ He would not name them.

Asked if he is at heart a Democrat, he said, ‘You know what, I really am tired of party affiliation quite frankly. I think I’m Rick Singleton. And I’m an American and to me that’s the only thing that should matter. This state has gotten too enveloped in party affiliations and I think that’s why I am running this committee. Let’s look at who is best qualified to be the president of the United States and stop worrying about whose party it is.

For the record: “Whether I am a Republican or a Democrat doesn’t matter. What I am is a conservative, quite frankly,’’ he said.

While Rep. Charlene Lima, a Democrat, welcomed him, albeit briefly, to the majority caucus, House Minority Leader Robert Watson, a Republican, welcomed him to what he called “the winning team.’’

-- Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau