Garcetti, Greuel Rack Up Big-Name Endorsements
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — On the heels of picking up an endorsement from former President Bill Clinton, LA Mayoral hopeful Wendy Greuel Thursday also received the support of LA Laker, Dodgers co-owner and LA businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Meanwhile, Eric Garcetti received the backing of Councilwoman Jan Perry, his one-time mayoral rival. Perry's endorsement is the second for Garcetti from a former opponent. Businessman Emanuel Pleitez, who came in fifth in the primary, announced his backing of Garcetti this month.
A Perry endorsement has the potential to sway her nearly 60,000 supporters to back Garcetti in the May 21 runoff against second-place finisher Wendy Greuel.
Both Greuel and Garcetti are heavily courting the black vote. In an election this potentially close, political observers believe the jockeying for key endorsements will go on right up until May 21.
Garcetti has picked up the endorsements of the Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee and the New Frontier Democratic Club, a group, mostly made up of women, with strong ties in the black community.
Greuel, meanwhile, has the support of County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, as well as LA Sentinel publisher Danny Bakewell. While stumping on the campaign trail, Greuel has also made continual references to her ties with former Mayor Tom Bradley, to date, LA's only black mayor.
Third-place finisher Kevin James is holding off on an endorsement. James, who snagged more than 60,000 votes, mostly in the San Fernando Valley, reportedly met with Garcetti and Greuel two weeks ago but said he wasn't a fan of either.
Magic Johnson told KCAL9's Dave Lopez that both Garcetti and Greuel heavily courted his support but in the end he decided on Greuel. And Johnson said he talked to both camps more than once.
In explaining why he picked Greuel, Johnson said, "She understands what the future looks like." And conceded it was a tough choice because, "I like Eric."
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