U.S. Rep. Danny Davis Endorses Chuy Garcia For Mayor
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In the race for Chicago mayor, challenger Chuy Garcia has picked up the endorsement of Congressman Danny Davis, reports WBBM's Nancy Harty.
Pointing to a history of working with Chuy Garcia as an alderman, state senator and county commissioner over three decades, Congressman Davis says Garcia is no stranger to the African-American community, a group he says is ready and eager to support Garcia's campaign.
"I think people who weren't engaged, who were not involved are indeed trying to figure out, 'How do I get in? Tell me where the Chuy campaign office is,'" Davis said.
Endorsing Garcia at an African-American church, Davis called commercials trying to highlight tensions between Blacks and Latinos unfortunate, but he says they don't represent who Garcia is and he expects voters to see through them.
Davis endorsed Willie Wilson in the first round. CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports with Black voters holding the balance of power, both campaigns are sharpening their focus on black voters.
"I don't think there's much Rahm Emanuel can do to repair his image in the Black community," said political consultant Del Marie Cobb. "People know who he is, he's a known quantity.
Cobb says Garcia can gain more Black votes, but needs to increase his recognition and overcome wariness between the two groups.
"There's a level of distrust and I think it's just because the communities don't know each other and haven't spent a lot of time together," Cobb said.
The endorsement comes as a new poll by Ogden Fry shows Garcia and Emanuel in a tight race. The poll shows Emanuel leading Garcia 43.5 percent to Garcia's 38 percent with 18 percent undecided. The poll's margin of error was 3.13 percent.