Michael Bloomberg has endorsed the U.S. House campaign of a blind rabbi from New Jersey.
The New York mayor, an independent, made the endorsement of Dennis Shulman, the Democratic challenger in New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District, on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday morning. Bloomberg said that he was "impressed" by Shulman’s "pragmatic, sensible approach" on such issues as strengthening the economy and keeping "guns out of the hands of criminals," and praised his "focus on problem solving, not ideology."
Bloomberg specifically stressed the gun issue, saying that Shulman’s opponent, three-term incumbent Republican Scott Garrett, "actively works to prevent law officials from getting guns out of the hands of criminals." Garrett has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association.
Bloomberg has only endorsed one other lawmaker outside of New York this election cycle, 11-term Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), who is locked in a tight battle for re-election with Democrat Jim Himes. The mayor said he had chosen to endorse outside of his state because "in the federal government, every congressman gets the same vote."
Shulman said he was "so honored" by the endorsement because Bloomberg had been "an inspiration to me in my run for office."
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