Barack Obama and Eric Schmidt

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has made it official: He’s endorsing Barack Obama, and will hit the campaign trail for the Democrat this week, including at a Florida event where he will co-moderate a panel about the economy. Other Silicon Valley execs are expected to follow Schmidt’s lead.

Schmidt is a political moderate; for example, he spoke at Britain’s Conservative Party conference in 2006, according to the Wall Street Journal. He’s been an informal adviser to the Obama campaign on technology as well as green energy.

Schmidt has made it clear that it’s his personal endorsement, rather than Google’s. But there’s no doubt where Google employees stand: According to the Wall Street Journal, as of August 31, Google employees had given $487,355 to Obama’s campaign and only $20,600 to McCain’s.

Obama also agrees with Schmidt’s and Google’s official stand that the government should ensure network neutrality. McCain, the Wall Street Journal says, is not in favor of the policy.

No surprise to see someone from The Google endorse Obama.

And, after all, McCain has Carly Fiorina on his side.