NBC Chicago – The man who once backed Jesse Jackson Jr. for Illinois’ 2nd District is supporting the former congressman’s likely successor.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday endorsed Robin Kelly in the race to replace Jackson, who resigned from the seat last year amid a federal investigation and later pleaded guilty to misspending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds.
“I share Robin’s passionate advocacy to end gun violence with common sense solutions because like her, I believe families impacted by gun violence – especially in my home city of Chicago – deserve a vote,” Obama said in a statement. “I urge you to elect Robin Kelly as your representative in the United State Congress.”
All in all, Kelly is a pretty safe endorsement. She easily won the Democratic primary, beating top rivals Debbie Halvorson and Ald. Anthony Beale with 51.9 percent of the vote thanks to a little help from ads funded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s SuperPAC.
In a Democrat-heavy area, there are few doubts she will go on to beat her Republican opponent, and her agenda is abundantly clear. During her victory speech in February, Kelly didn’t shy from her stance on guns, saying she would stand with Obama to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
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