Obama endorses Daley's re-election bid

January 22, 2007 (WLS) -- On Monday, Senator Barack Obama announced that he is supporting Mayor Daley's re-election bid despite a series of City Hall corruption scandals.

Mayor Daley endorsed Obama for president a few weeks ago and the mayor's brother Bill -- an expert on national campaigns -- is now an Obama advisor. So in the spirit of political payback, Obama is endorsing Daley for re-election over two African American challengers despite a series of City Hall corruption scandals that Obama called deeply troubling as recently as a few months ago.

Senator and likely presidential candidate Barack Obama is also endorsing Mayor Daley's running mates -- City Clerk Miguel Del Valle and Treasurer Stepanie Neeley.

Obama says Daley's overall record, his style of inclusion and his love of Chicago make him a better choice than challengers Dorothy Brown or William "Dock" Walls.

"There is no doubt that there remains progress to be made. I think the mayor is more mindful than anybody that people are going to be watching to make sure that that progress takes place. I certainly will be watching it. I think ultimately you want to look at the whole record," said Senator Barack Obama, (D) Illinois.

"I firmly believe Chicago is getting better and stronger than ever. All of us know there is a lot more work to do, and there is. I thank Senator Obama for supporting our team," said Mayor Daley.

Daley is endorsing Obama for president over one-time Chicagoan Hillary Rodham Clinton -- the senator from New York who jumped into the race over the weekend. She has a huge lead over Obama in the early polls.

"I think I recall similar odds about three or four years ago when I was thinking about running for the U.S. Senate," said Obama.

Daley's challengers are calling the endorsement political payback for the mayor's support of Obama's presidential bid. They say it is a big mistake for someone who is trying to occupy the ethical high ground in a run for president not to hold Daley more accountable for City Hall corruption.

"I'm disappointed that in light of the corruption in City Hall, that this kind of enforcement has occurred," said Dorothy Brown, candidate for mayor.

"Given what he did today, endorsing Daley suggestions he is not ready or fit to hold the highest office," said William "Dock" Walls, candidate for mayor.

Walls says the endorsement will not help Daley because Obama does not have a political organization. Walls is predicting a landslide victory on February 27 with the support of grassroots organizations, not politicians.

Dorothy Brown is expecting an important endorsement Tuesday from the Chicago Firefighters Union -- even though the president of the union supports Daley.

Obama is trying to make history as the first African American president. On Monday, he applauded another piece of history -- Lovie Smith of the Bears and Tony Dungy of the Colts becoming the first African Americans head coaches of Super Bowl teams.

"They are both men of humility, they are both men of god. They never trash talk. They are not yellers and screamers on the sidelines. They are a couple of classic individuals," said Obama.

Obama says that Dorothy Brown is an excellent circuit court clerk and someone he admires greatly but Daley deserves to be re-elected. There is no reaction yet from Brown or Dock Walls. But it's safe to say that Daley could not have asked for a more important endorsement than Obama -- especially in a race against African American challengers.

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