L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa makes his peace with the Democratic outcome (sort of)

We're betting Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is like a lot of Hillary Clinton's dedicated supporters: They're doing their best to learn a new song, but it's hard to let go of the music in their hearts.

Asked today by The Times' Joel Rubin for comment about the Democratic presidential race, Villaraigosa   stressed that he's ready to put on his traveling shoes for presumptive nominee Barack Obama. But he also still wanted to say good things about Clinton -- and dismiss any notion that he regretted the decision to serve as one of her most ardent advocates.

"I was proud to have supported Sen. Clinton and her effort," the mayor said during a news conference at the LAPD training center. "I have never been involved in a presidential campaign where I've seen anyone with the passion and persistence and intestinal fortitude of Hillary Clinton. I was proud to be associated with that campaign."

He continued: "But now that Sen. Obama is the presumptive nominee, I've said for a long time that I am prepared to work as hard for him as I did for Sen. Clinton."

That would be plenty hard, as we've taken note of before. And it will be worth watching if the Obama campaign takes him up on his offer as part of what has to be a sustained effort on it's part to significantly burnish the candidate's appeal to Latino voters, especially ...

... in several key Southwestern states.

Asked what he liked about Obama, Villaraigosa said, "I think he's inspiring. I think he clearly touched a chord with the American people when he talked about a need for change."

Finishing his answer, he tellingly worked in a reference to his first choice in the White House derby, saying, "I think Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton share values that I believe are important not only for our party but for our country."

Villaraigoisa said he had spoken with members of Obama's camp but declined to provide any specifics.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Lawrence K. Ho/L.A. Times

Comments

[Bradley Jones]

Let's hope our wandering mayor decides to seriously support Obama - he owes him and us that much. While he spent weeks touring the country on behalf of Hillary, none of the major issue Los Angeles faces were addressed: traffic gets worse every day and the state of our roads is akin to a city in the third world. LA needs Barack Obama in the White House and we expect Villaraigosa to do everything he can to get him there. It's time to get to work.

[Ray]

He's your typical opportunist politician only worse. I hope Obama's camp is smart enough to avoid this slimeball. You know, if you sleep w/dogs you get fleas, etc.

[fedupinLA]

Obama certainly doesn't need Villar...but Villar certainly needs Obama! What a pandering, egotistical, self-serving, FAILURE!

I hope that Obama knows about the ethnic cleansing going on in L.A., and the fact that Villar is aiding and abetting gangbangers and drug cartels. He is an agent of Mexico!

Villar has RUINED this city, even though he is NEVER here! That's a pretty incredible feat!

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

I am afraid Antonio Villaraigosa made a poor descision early on and waited far too long to correct his mistake. We can only hope that Los Angeles does not suffer because of his errors.
Perhaps Antonio Villaraigosa identifies with Bill Clinton as both share a common lack of judgement

[dudeabides]

Obama needs this philandering Reconquester's endorsement like a hole in the head. Villaraigosa is after all -a democrat; whom else would he be endorsing now?

I do not catch a hearty enthusiastic endorsement here. He is as usual doing the expedient thing while behind the scenes aiding & abetting his illegal fraud worker immigrants & future constituency....they are in EVERY sector now; MTA and other bus drivers, city workers, grocery, retail, construction, security, well; nearly EVERYTHING...not doing a single thing to address this on our behalf...instead trying to encourage it and dampen ICE's feeble efforts!. Good job Tony.

He stated emphatically on Charlie Rose in February..".If you break the law, you will be arrested". He forgot to add.... unless you are here illegally from Mexico! Sickening and not as slick as he thinks he is.

[Todd]

Obama avoid Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa he is a complete waste, a liability, and an ineffective career politician. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spends all his time doing interviews on Spanish TV very rarely spends anytime doing interviews on English TV. Even though Villaraigosa is married, he ended up having an affair with a Spanish news caster. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is completely silent on the Hispanic gang violence and all the other problems Hispanics generate. Illegal Hispanics murdering US citizens and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is completely inactive in addressing the issue. Of course the Hispanic mayor protested when the federal government started to arrest illegal workers in the LA. He completely ignored the fact that these people were illegal and made every argument in the book about how the raids should stop. The list goes on and on.