President Barack Obama has endorsed Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in her primary for CD18. From the press release:
“Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a tireless champion for Houston’s working families,” said President Obama. “That’s why we need her back in Congress to help my efforts to bring real jobs back to Houston and the nation. I need you to cast your vote for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.”
“I am grateful and humbled to receive this endorsement from President Obama,” said Jackson Lee. “When he asked me to campaign for him, I found it so rewarding to see the outpouring of support for the change he represented and now he is the change agent that America and Houston needs today. I am proud to be working with President Barack Obama as we work to change lives for the better.
“Now that he is in office, it is exciting to work with President Obama on the many important issues facing our country,” the Congresswoman continued. “Now more than ever, I am grateful for the President’s trust and confidence in me.”
Two points of interest here. One is that this really ought to bury the 2008 Democratic Presidential primary, in which SJL’s support for Hillary Clinton eventually gave rise to rumors of a write-in opponent for her that November. I don’t really expect that, of course, but at least we know that Obama himself is over it.
The other point was raised by Martha: Is this a show of strength, or is it a last-ditch effort by a candidate who’s in danger of losing? As I said in a comment there, I’d lean towards the former. This is a Democratic seat, and there’s basically nothing at stake in terms of Obama’s agenda regardless of who wins. There’s no real reason for Obama to stick his neck out for someone in a race like this unless he’s pretty sure that person is going to win. We’ll know soon enough, I guess.