Hillary Clinton isn’t generally viewed as the most progressive Democratic presidential candidate, so getting the endorsement of the man dubbed the most progressive mayor in America is a big win for her.
“The candidate that has the right vision and right experience and the ability to get the job done is Hillary Clinton,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“We have to restore the middle class and Hillary Clinton knows how to do it and will get it done, and has a progressive platform to speak to the changes we need,” he said.Â
When de Blasio took office in January of 2014 he was widely heralded as the most progressive mayor in America. But the 54-year old former New York City Public Advocate and NY City Council member also has a long history with the Clintons – he was her Senate campaign manager. So when Hillary Clinton announced she was entering the presidential race and de Blasio remained silent, then was forced to announce he was taking a wait-and-see approach, it was viewed by some as a rebuke to Clinton.
“I’ve seen her vision and platform develop over five months and I’m extremely pleased with what she’s put on the table, and has a history of fighting issues,†de Blasio said.
Mayor de Blasio’s endorsement of Clinton over the more progressive Sanders will no doubt be taken as an affront to the Vermont U.S. Senator as well, at least by his supporters. But de Blasio had strong words of praise for Sanders, saying he “has done something very good for this country.”
In the MSNBC interview above, host and former GOP Congressman Joe Scarborough battled de Blasio, claiming Clinton might flip-flop on issues.
“I’m endorsing Hillary Clinton enthusiastically,” de Blasio said to Sanders’ supporters, speaking to Clinton’s “exceedingly complete” “progressive agenda,” and “powerful platform” that also takes into account “race in America and how that interconnects income inequality.”
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Image: Screenshot via MSNBC/Twitter