Mayor With Wife
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is fine with taking a behind the scenes role in the upcoming presidential race, which most likely feature the first serious African American candidate, Sen. Barack Obama.
“It’s more important to do what he’s been doing, which is going to places where he needs the vote, like Oakland County, Macomb County and Kent County,” Kilpatrick said on Mackinac Island Friday. “I’ll be stumping for turnout in the city, but the issues have become muddied here,” he added referring to his legal problems.
“He’s running a very smart campaign and he does not need to be walking hand-in-hand singing kumbaya with Kwame Kilpatrick,” he said.
In two visits to the state in the last two weeks, Obama has stuck with areas that have large concentrations of independent and moderate Republican voters, rather than Democratic strongholds like Detroit.
Most political observers have said that it’s far too risky for Obama to have campaign appearances with Kilpatrick, who is embroiled in a text messaging scandal that has resulted in eight felony charges being filed against him.
Kilpatrick said he’s wanted to come out in support of one of the Democratic candidates for months but has agreed to remain neutral until the state’s delegate situation is straightened out by the state and national parties.
“As a super delegate I want to make sure that our delegation is seated first,” he said. “People in 83 counties voted and their vote should not be diminished.”
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