Obama makes rare endorsement in crucial St. Petersburg race

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By MARC CAPUTO 08/25/2017 07:00 AM EDT

Former President Barack Obama is intervening in a bellwether Florida election, endorsing St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman in the hopes of juicing Democratic turnout in Tuesday’s multi-candidate race in order to force a November run-off, sources tell POLITICO.

Obama’s rare endorsement is crucial both for Kriseman — who has been bleeding support from African-American voters — and for a demoralized Florida Democratic Party that’s still reeling over President Donald Trump’s surprise win in November.

The state Democratic Party has made Kriseman’s reelection a priority and has tried to make the unpopular Trump a millstone to weigh down the frontrunner, Republican candidate Rick Baker, a former mayor of the Tampa Bay-area city. According to some polls, Baker is close to exceeding 50 percent of the vote, which would hand him the seat outright without the need for a Nov. 7 runoff.

Obama has endorsed in just one other mayoral race, in Los Angeles, although his support wasn’t really needed by incumbent Eric Garcetti. Obama also endorsed in one other notable race, France’s presidential contest, where he backed the winner, Emmanuel Macron.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/08/25/obama-makes-rare-endorsement-in-tight-st-petersburg-race-114141?lo=ap_c1

[RandySF]

1. We need to get more involved in local elections.

Decisions made by cities and school districts have the greatest immediate effects on our lives.

[stpetegreg]

2. Glad that he came out for Rick

It's my old stomping grounds. Rick Kriseman had a house a couple of doors down from mine and I still keep up with the local politics through Facebook and emails. He is a great guy who really cares about the people in his community.