In the battle of high-profile endorsements between San Diego's two mayoral candidates, U.S. Rep. Bob Filner just scored big.
Former President Bill Clinton, who was campaigning for President Obama in Iowa Wednesday, announced his support for the Democratic Congressman in a recorded statement.
"As President, I worked with Bob to save San Diego taxpayers over three billion dollars and secured funding for construction of the Veteran’s Home," Clinton said. "Bob has the experience to move San Diego forward – to create good-paying 21st Century jobs, to support quality public education, and to put neighborhoods first, not special interests."
"As a Freedom Rider in the 1960s," Clinton continued, "Bob showed he had the courage to do what’s right, and that’s exactly what he will do as mayor of San Diego.”
Filner, who has also been endorsed by Gov. Jerry Brown and several other prominent state Democrats, thanked the former president. He said proud to have worked with Clinton.
"He represents the kind of bi-partisan cooperation that puts problem-solving ahead of politics, and that’s the kind of mayor I will be for San Diego,” Filner said in a statement announcing the endorsement.
Filner's opponent, Councilman Carl DeMaio, recently secured the endorsement of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.
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While Dumanis' support wasn't quite the news-maker as Clinton's, the announcement carried local significance. Dumanis ran against DeMaio in the primary and said she wasn't going to give any endorsements. In her statement, she railed against Filner and his treatment of women.
DeMaio was also endorsed by San Diego's current mayor Jerry Sanders, who is terming out this year.
