Obama Endorses Fellow Democrat De Blasio for New York City Mayor

By Esmé E. Deprez - Sep 23, 2013
Bill de Blasio, the Democratic nominee for New York mayor, won the backing of President Barack Obama, who praised the candidate’s pledge to close the growing gap between rich and poor in the most populous U.S. city.

De Blasio, 52, is running against Republican Joseph Lhota, 58, who headed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and served as a top aide to former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

“Progressive change is the centerpiece of Bill de Blasio’s vision for New York City,” Obama, a Democrat, said today in a statement distributed by de Blasio’s campaign. “Whether it’s ensuring pre-kindergarten is available for every 4-year-old, expanding after-school programs for every middle-school student who wants and needs them, making affordable housing available for more New York families and preserving community hospitals, Bill’s agenda for New York is marked by bold, courageous ideas that address the great challenges of our time.”

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, the former U.S. secretary of state, also have backed de Blasio.

“I am deeply honored by President Obama’s endorsement,” said de Blasio, who was elected public advocate, a city watchdog post, in 2009. “On health care, tax fairness or the economy, the president is no stranger to addressing big problems with big ideas and big solutions. I will emulate the example he has set, and if elected I stand eager to work with him on an urban agenda that grows prosperity for all.”

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-23/obama-endorses-fellow-democrat-de-blasio-for-new-york-city-mayor.html