NEW YORK, Apr 13: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is not yet endorsing former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in her bid for the US presidency, saying he first wants to see a “clear, bold vision” of where she is going in her campaign.
De Blasio, who managed Clinton’s successful Senate campaign in 2000, said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ yesterday that Clinton is among the most qualified presidential contenders in history and “she doesn’t need to be vetted.”
But asked if he would endorse Clinton, de Blasio said “Not until I see — and again, I would say this about any candidate — until I see an actual vision of where they want to go.”
“I think she’s a tremendous public servant. I think she is one of the most qualified people to ever run for this office. And by the way, thoroughly vetted, we can say that. But we need to see the substance.”
The mayor said that Americans now “want to see a vision.”
“And, again, that would be true of candidates on all levels. It’s time to see a clear, bold vision for progressive economic change,” de Blasio said.
Clinton, 67, made an official announcement about her presidential bid in a video, saying “everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion.”
De Blasio, a Democrat who won election as New York’s mayor in 2013, was campaign manager for Clinton’s first victorious US Senate run in 2000. He said much of what worked in 2000 will need to be repeated in 2016.
“One of the important points was she did go out and listened to what was happening to everyday people. And I think that’s going to be more necessary this year than ever before, because people in this country are hurting,” de Blasio said.
“The Great Recession set people back on their heels in a way we have not seen in decades and decades. I think it’s important for Hillary to hear those stories of the American people. I think it will make her a stronger candidate.”
Amid concerns by some Democrats over Clinton’s campaign message, de Blasio said she needs to define that message as soon as possible.
“I think the reality here is there’s a tremendous opportunity for her to present a vision because of how different the circumstances are today, than when she was last a candidate,” he said. “2008 was a very different time.”
He said Clinton and other Democrats vying for the party’s presidential nomination have an opportunity to present a new vision on income inequality.
He added that Democratic voters didn’t cast ballots in the 2014 midterms because they heard nothing meaningful from the party’s candidates.
Americans are now demanding their candidates come up with a plan to address income inequality, he said.
“[A plan] has to include progressive taxation. It has to include increases in wages and benefits. It has to include the willingness to tax the wealthy so we can invest (in) infrastructure, so we can invest in education again,” he said.
“That’s what I think progressives and everyday Americans will be looking for from Hillary and all other candidates.” (PTI)
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