In what could have been his coolest political trip since he supported the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is campaigning for Hillary Clinton now in Iowa.
But what a bummer: even though de Blasio seems to fancy himself some kind of “progressive” power broker most Iowans he canvassed door to door yesterday did not even recognize him.
De Blasio told the New York Daily News that Iowans were “generally” clueless when he showed up at their door yesterday.
But more hard core Democratic activists knew they were among a prominent fellow traveler, de Blasio claimed. And his belated endorsement of Clinton should have resonated with them.
“Obviously, they want to particularly speak to progressives because that’s so much of the Iowa caucus-goer electorate. And I think I have the ability to say to my fellow progressive, ‘I really believe in Hillary.’”
De Blasio and his wife traveled to Iowa mostly on their own dime, taking an economy flight from Newark on Friday with a Charlotte stop over, according to his office. But the Clinton campaign defrayed part of the cost for the trip, which continues through Tuesday.
He was accompanied by 15 City Hall staffers who also paid for themselves and are reportedly using their personal vacation time for the campaign work.
De Blasio, who was campaign manager for Hillary’s 2000 senate bid, is not scheduled to meet with his former boss. He angered Hillary’s people this April by refusing to endorse her when he appeared on “Meet the Press” the same day she announced the White House run.
Democratic political strategist Hilary Rosen accused him of “stomping” on her presidential announcement.
When de Blasio finally endorsed Clinton on October 30 on “Morning Joe” the campaign did not even put out a special statement. Instead he was listed fourth in an announcement of the 85 mayors who had decided to back her.
The grudge sounds strong.
De Blasio today told the New York Times that her campaign initially rejected his offer to help in Iowa because they already had “plenty” of surrogates there. They also said he could make an appearance in New Hampshire but without her.