Posted on 03/24/2005 7:40:35 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Rep. Maxine Waters, one of the city's most prominent political voices, labeled Mayor James Hahn a failure Thursday and endorsed his rival in the May runoff, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa.
Hahn's campaign shrugged off the defection - Waters supported the mayor four years ago - but it came as the latest reminder of the incumbent's unsteady relationship with the black community. Hahn was elected with overwhelming black support but saw his popularity fade after the ouster of the city's black police chief, Bernard Parks.
With Villaraigosa at her side at a Wilshire district hotel, Waters, who is black, acknowledged that the Parks controversy was a factor in her decision. At the time Parks was pushed aside in 2002, she sharply criticized Hahn and was quoted in at least one newspaper saying she would try to unseat him.
But her differences with the mayor are far broader, Waters said. She called Hahn's $11 billion plan to expand the Los Angeles International Airport a "boondoggle," and said his leadership was uninspired and had left City Hall at a virtual standstill.
"When you look at the total picture, this man fails," Waters said, referring to Hahn. "Every way that you look at the mayor, he's just not been there, he's just not provided the enlightened leadership."
The political benefit of endorsements is often discounted, but Waters is on the list of names either campaign would welcome, along with Earvin "Magic" Johnson, former Mayor Richard Riordan and lawyer Bob Hertzberg, who finished third in the March 8 primary election.
Waters has a well-established political operation that can benefit Villaraigosa, but the biggest benefit of the endorsement might be symbolic, signaling the black community that a Villaraigosa mayoralty would look out for their concerns.
Villaraigosa, in seeking black support, must overcome historical tensions in the city between blacks and Hispanics.
"I imagine a lot of voters would think that Maxine Waters would never endorse someone who was weak on issues important to African-Americans," said John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College.
For candidates seeking votes across the city's diverse communities, endorsements can be politically tricky.
For example, Villaraigosa, a liberal, has been maneuvering toward the political middle to make himself more attractive to moderates and Republicans he needs to win in May. The endorsement from the liberal Waters could help Villaraigosa with her largely black constituency in South Los Angeles, but it will do little to convince Republicans that he's changed his political stripes.
Hahn consultant Kam Kuwata said the endorsement "comes as no surprise" given Waters' critical comments about the mayor during the Parks controversy.
The Hahn campaign released news clippings from the 2001 campaign that suggested Villaraigosa had, at different times, supported Parks and said he wasn't up to the job at the Police Department.
"That's pandering," Kuwata said. Waters' endorsement "can open a door, she can open the door very wide, but the candidate has to close the deal and I don't think Antonio Villaraigosa can close the deal."
The Villaraigosa campaign said the quotes were taken out of context.
I'd be writing in Mickey Mouse.
Villaraigosa, in seeking black support, must overcome historical tensions in the city between blacks and Hispanics.
What an absolutely gawd-awful choice to make in the run-off?
Hahn or Villaraigosa.
That sounds almost as bad as the choice in the Minneapolis mayoral race this fall.
No better endorsement for Hahn than backing Villaraigosa! Keep it up, Maxine...
Hahn would be worse than Villagrossa. If the "R' word was even hinted about, he'd fold like a cheap suit. On 9/12/01, Hahn had a press conference which did not adress terrorism, but demanede political correctness towards jihadists and their sympathizers. Yelling "white racism" at Villagrossa would carry no weight.
Maxine Waters....loose cannon extraordinaire!....
The advantage with Hahn is he's basically a local hack. His political career pretty much ends either in two months, or four years from now. V is a strong and charistmatic type, better able to get things done (bad things), and has future prospects for Senator, Governor, etc... but if he loses again, his career is probably dead. Ergo, Hahn is the "best" choice. At least that's how I am thinking as of right now.
Not from what I have seen. He isn't going anywhere on a statewide basis. Who is the least bad choice? I don't have a clue. But then I don't vote in LA anymore. But absent some new powerful dynamic, H has to be toast. But then, no doubt some poll will pop up tomorrow showing it a close race just because I posted that. :)
The funny thing, and this speaks volumes about the inherent weakness of the LA mayoral office, is that Gloria Molina has twice declined even though she'd have a "free ride", being able to keep her Supervisorial seat, even in the event of a loss.
twice declined to run
It's too bad that Hertzberg didn't make the cut,, seeing someone try and split up the LAUSD would have been a sight to behold.
Hertzberg struck me as a slimeball.
lol.. aRnie endorsed him, yaknow? ;-)
at least some of his ads were entertaining.
Its the black and brown Communist gang coalition.
Villaraigosa has also been endorsed by our local RINO State Assembly member Keith Richman. Richman, as a reminder, was the one who cast the deciding vote with the democrats a few years ago when the Republicans blocked the budget and called for some fiscal sanity.
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