Birmingham mayor who just endorsed Biden says he can rally Democrats nationwide, help down-ballot

[highplainsdem]

I've already posted an OP about Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin endorsing Biden and doing an interview with The Root explaining the reasons for his endorsement

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287383714

but that wasn't the only intervew Woodfin did, and an interview with AL.com includes more of Woodfin's reasoning behind the endorsement:

https://www.al.com/news/2019/12/birmingham-mayor-randall-woodfin-endorses-sen-joe-biden-in-2020-presidential-race.html

Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin endorses former VP Joe Biden in 2020 presidential race


In November, Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin joined several other African American mayors from Southern cities in Atlanta to meet with former Vice President Joe Biden. The gathering was part of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate’s response to an open letter to all candidates penned in September by four black Southern mayors, including Woodfin, offering a “road map” of issues the leaders said must be address in order to obtain their respective endorsement.

“We had a very detailed and thorough discussion around the issues we raised,” Woodfin said. “I remember how I felt when I walked out of that room: I can get behind the vice president. Not only can he win to become the next president of the United States but would work with mayors as partners.”

On Monday, Woodfin, widely considered a political progressive, said he is endorsing Biden among the still-crowded field of 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls.

“He represents the bridge between the future of Democratic party and most the successful Democratic administration of my lifetime,” Woodfin told AL.com on Sunday. “We’re talking about a leader, not just an elected official. We’re talking about a leader that has been doing it for quite some time.”

Woodfin believes Biden will rally Democratic voters nationwide, which will be critical to candidates and initiatives on the remainder of the ballot. “When you think about competitive [elections] we’ll have in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky," Woodfin said. “You’ll have the balance of the U.S. Congress on the line, redistricting on the line. We need somebody on the top of that ticket who can not only help down-ballot candidates be competitive, but also someone who can expand the map across the nation.

"For me all of that points to Vice President Biden giving us that best chance.”

Three years ago, Woodfin defeated incumbent William Bell in the mayoral race with prominent backing from Sen. Bernie Sanders, the progressive who unsuccessfully sought the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination and is in the 2020 field. Sanders recorded a robocall for Woodfin that went out on the night before the mayoral election, telling loyal progressives the challenger would fight for “Medicare for all” and battle racial injustice.

Woodfin says he spoke with Sanders, members of his campaign and leadership teams about his endorsement of Biden. “That conversation needed to be had,” he said. “I respect a lot of things Senator Sanders stands for. I believe in a lot of the things he’s doing. I am a fan of his conviction and consider him a person I can trust and a friend. None of that goes away with this endorsement.”

-snip-

[Cha]

1. I like this Mayor Randall Woodfin! He's a Realist!

thanks,

Biden's a Uniter

Woodfin believes Biden will rally Democratic voters nationwide, which will be critical to candidates and initiatives on the remainder of the ballot. “When you think about competitive [elections] we’ll have in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky," Woodfin said. “You’ll have the balance of the U.S. Congress on the line, redistricting on the line. We need somebody on the top of that ticket who can not only help down-ballot candidates be competitive, but also someone who can expand the map across the nation.

"For me all of that points to Vice President Biden giving us that best chance.”

[highplainsdem]

5. Agree completely, Cha!

[Cha]

6. ..

[msongs]

2. notice he stresses importance of a democrat supporting democrats all the way

to lowest level of elected offices. if one wants the democratic party to implement its values one needs actual democrats in office

[Cha]

3. Yes! I like his attitude a lot!

[Thekaspervote]

4. Yeah!!

[Cha]

7. Most of the political media (& his supporters) made it solely about BS..

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

8. This endorsement video is amazing

Link to tweet

[Cha]

9. Yes, it is.. it's Outstandingly Awesome!

[betsuni]

10. K&R