Bill de Blasio (D) scored another huge endorsement in his bid to become the next mayor of New York City this morning:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/...
Bill de Blasio is getting support from the highest of places.
The Democratic candidate for New York City mayor is being endorsed by President Barack Obama.
“Progressive change is the centerpiece of Bill de Blasio’s vision for New York City, and it’s why he will be a great mayor of America’s largest city,” Obama said in a statement released Monday. “Whether it’s ensuring pre-kindergarten is available for every four-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.” - CBS New York, 9/23/13
de Blasio of course was thrilled to get the President's endorsement:
http://politicker.com/...
“I am deeply honored by President Obama’s endorsement,” the city’s public advocate said. “If I am fortunate to earn the trust of the people of New York on November 5th, I will work every day to advance our shared value of making sure everyone has a fair shot. 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.”
In 2009, Mr. Obama endorsed Democratic nominee Bill Thompson–but only at the last minute and indirectly, via his spokesman, who never actually mentioned Mr. Thompson by name. This time around, with Mr. de Blasio dominating in the polls, it’s a different story. - Politicker, 9/23/13
This past week, de Blasio has been picking up endorsements from major unions like the UTF and big name politicians like Senator Chuck Schumer (D. NY) and the Clintons. de Blasio's also been getting some great press lately. The New Republic has a piece out that shows how de Blasio and Pope Francis share a common ideology:
http://www.newrepublic.com/...
Bill de Blasio, the frontrunner for New York City mayor and darling of the city's progressives, was a "youthful leftist," according to a lengthy report in today's New York Times. It's not something the candidate has made a secret of, but the Times' in-depth exploration of his deep sympathy towards and activism on behalf of Nicaragua's Sandinista revolutionaries is surely something his opponent, Joe Lhota, will get a ton of mileage out of while attacking de Blasio from the right and seeking to shore up his own support among Wall Streeters. It's not as if de Blasio has made his interest in combating income inequality a secret; in fact, it's probably what won him the Democratic primary. Tucked inside the larger discussion of his favorite youthful causes was this explanation of the underpinnings of his outlook: "In a recent interview, Mr. de Blasio said his views then — and now — represented a mix of admiration for European social democratic movements, Mr. Roosevelt's New Deal and liberation theology."
Liberation theology, a movement that began in Latin America in the 1950s and '60s in reaction to extreme inequality there, happened to be in the news already, thanks to Pope Francis, who recently met with one of the movement's leaders at the Vatican — something his predecessor would not have done. Pope Francis has made waves for his recent remarks urging the church to back off an obsessive focus on homosexuality, abortion, and birth control, and to instead focus on serving the poor. It's a focus that the South American Catholic Church, out of which Francis comes, has had for years, thanks to the massive influence of liberation theology. Pope Francis has been extremely careful to make it clear that he doesn't ascribe to the more hardline, Marxist version of liberation theology, that of Father Gustavo Gutierrez. He is merely sympathetic to the viewpoint — which means a lot, clearly, in real practical terms about how he organizes the priorities of the Church. - New Republic, 9/23/13
Turn out will be key to de Blasio's win, especially against his opponent Joe Lhota (R. NY). It sounds like de Blasio and Lhota will be fighting hard to win Staten Island in the election:
http://www.silive.com/...
The matchup between Democrat Bill de Blasio and Republican Joe Lhota is a battle of opposites, with Staten Island playing a crucial role and issues such as tolls, crime and taxes at the top of the agenda.
Lhota is looking to parlay his time as deputy mayor under Rudolph Giuliani into a City Hall win.
The Rudy connection is a key one on the Island, where Giuliani remains popular. Most agree that Lhota must prevail here in order to win the election.
But de Blasio is ceding nothing, telling Island Democrats the other night that he wants to return the borough to the Democratic column.
De Blasio had wide leads in two polls released last week.
Lhota's troubles on the toll issue are well known: He was head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) when the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge toll went up to $15.
While Island residents pay far less thanks to the E-ZPass discount, the issue cut deeply and was the main reason Lhota lost the borough to billionaire John Catsimatidis in the primary.
In a sign of lingering damage, top Island Republicans who backed Catsimatidis have yet to flock to Lhota. - Staten island Advance, 9/23/13
The election is Tuesday, November 5th. If you would like to get involved with de Blasio's campaign or donate, you can click here to do so:
http://www.billdeblasio.com/