CHICAGO — Lori Lightfoot, the town's first black lady elected mayor, threw her help to Joe Biden’s presidential marketing campaign Friday, after months of speaking concerning the race from the sidelines and despite her reservations concerning the former vice chairman.
“This is probably the most consequential election of my life," she stated at a press convention featuring other outstanding Illinois Democrats, together with Sen. Dick Durbin. "I’m proud to endorse Joe Biden."
Lightfoot, an Ohio native, stated she expects to campaign for him in the Midwest, including in Michigan and Wisconsin. The Illinois Democratic main is March 17.
"What impresses me is how Joe Biden has turned his ache into empathy and service," Lightfoot stated. "I do know he is a fighter."
Lightfoot’s endorsement, which she first teased to civic leaders and members of the First Friday Club of Chicago behind closed doors, comes just a day earlier than Bernie Sanders is scheduled to swoop into the town for a rally at Grant Park — the identical place Barack Obama held his 2008 victory speech.
The mayor leads the nation's third-largest city and hasn’t all the time been on board with Biden. In an interview with POLITICO final yr, Lightfoot stated the previous vice chairman needed to atone for a way Anita Hill was treated when she testified before Congress throughout Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Courtroom affirmation hearings almost three many years ago. Biden, a senator at the time, chaired the hearings.
“I don’t assume Anita Hill needs his apology. However give an account of your conduct with a number of hindsight,” Lightfoot stated at the time, recalling how she was riveted by the 1991 hearings after lately graduating from regulation faculty. “I don’t know that he’s efficiently finished that but.”
However now Lightfoot joins an extended listing of African American elected officials in Chicago shifting into the Biden camp, including Reps. Danny Davis and Robin Kelly.
The mayor stated she and Biden talked by telephone and when asked whether or not they addressed Anita Hill, Lightfoot stated, “Let’s simply say we had a very good dialog.”
Still, Sanders has a bench of supporters in Illinois among Latino politicians, akin to Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Sick.). Jill Biden was in Glencoe, Unwell., a suburb north of Chicago, Friday for a fundraiser that made about $100,000, according a campaign pool report.
Rep. Bobby Rush hasn’t announced who he’s backing since his candidate, Mike Bloomberg, exited the race. And freshman Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood, whose swing district supported Donald Trump in 2016, has stated she would keep impartial.
Lightfoot has made it clear that she didn’t align with Sanders on key issues, and expressed concern about how his marketing campaign treats ladies, notably after reports of Hillary Clinton saying his 2016 marketing campaign was rife with sexism.
The mayor additionally rejected Sanders’ democratic socialism message.
Nonetheless, Lightfoot just lately hinted she wouldn’t endorse Biden or Elizabeth Warren, either. Like Sanders, Warren additionally backed a strike put on by the Chicago Academics Union last yr, putting them at odds with Lightfoot. Biden hadn't contacted her for much of the campaign to debate his candidacy, despite visiting Chicago a number of occasions.
The slights created speculation she’d ultimately endorse Bloomberg, whom she had met with a number of occasions during his visits to Chicago.
Finally, Lightfoot was all the time expected to help whoever the Democratic nominee is, as she’s been adamant in her opposition to Trump, even turning down meetings within the White Home with fellow mayors and the president.
Src: Chicago mayor backs Biden despite jabbing him over Anita Hill
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