February 11, 2009 4:43 PM
- Text
Clinton Gets Campaign Link To Latinos
(AP)
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton announced on Tuesday that New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez will serve as co-chair of her presidential campaign, providing her with a strong link to the Hispanic community.
In a joint news conference, the New York senator said she appreciates Menendez' support and called him "the embodiment of the American dream."
"The support of Latino Americans is especially important to me because these days require us to bring our country together," Clinton said.
Menendez, a Cuban-American and former member of the House leadership, was appointed in December 2005 to fill the Senate seat of Gov.-elect Jon Corzine. Menendez was re-elected in 2006, defeating Thomas Kean Jr., the son of the former Republican governor, in a hard-fought and expensive race.
Clinton raised money and campaigned for Menendez during his re-election bid.
Menendez is one of just three Hispanics in the Senate, along with Republican Mel Martinez of Florida and Democrat Ken Salazar of Colorado.
Menendez said he trusts Clinton to get the United States out of a "mismanaged and misguided" war in Iraq.
"As someone who voted against the Iraq war, it is my judgment that Sen. Clinton is the leader best able to move us forward and out of this war," he said.
Clinton has been widely criticized for her vote to authorize the war in 2002. On the campaign trail, she has promised to end the conflict if elected president.
The Menendez endorsement follows that of another prominent Hispanic Democrat, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Both California and New Jersey are among several large states hosting primaries on Feb. 5, 2008.
In a joint news conference, the New York senator said she appreciates Menendez' support and called him "the embodiment of the American dream."
"The support of Latino Americans is especially important to me because these days require us to bring our country together," Clinton said.
Menendez, a Cuban-American and former member of the House leadership, was appointed in December 2005 to fill the Senate seat of Gov.-elect Jon Corzine. Menendez was re-elected in 2006, defeating Thomas Kean Jr., the son of the former Republican governor, in a hard-fought and expensive race.
Clinton raised money and campaigned for Menendez during his re-election bid.
Menendez is one of just three Hispanics in the Senate, along with Republican Mel Martinez of Florida and Democrat Ken Salazar of Colorado.
Menendez said he trusts Clinton to get the United States out of a "mismanaged and misguided" war in Iraq.
"As someone who voted against the Iraq war, it is my judgment that Sen. Clinton is the leader best able to move us forward and out of this war," he said.
Clinton has been widely criticized for her vote to authorize the war in 2002. On the campaign trail, she has promised to end the conflict if elected president.
The Menendez endorsement follows that of another prominent Hispanic Democrat, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Both California and New Jersey are among several large states hosting primaries on Feb. 5, 2008.
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