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Cory Booker Secures Obama's Endorsement

by Lane Florsheim

Cory Booker posted a press release on his campaign website Wednesday announcing a very presidential seal of approval. President Obama endorsed Booker, citing the Newark Mayor's hard work, fight for the middle class, and successful job creation. Here's what Obama had to say:

Cory Booker has dedicated his life to the work of building hope and opportunity in communities where too little of either existed. Whether as a college student working in East Palo Alto or as mayor of New Jersey’s largest city, Cory has time and again taken on tough challenges, fought for the middle class and those working to join it, and forged coalitions that create progress - and that's the spirit he'll carry with him to Washington.
His passion for his city has helped create new jobs and attract some of America’s top businesses to Newark. Cory will be an important partner in our efforts to reduce gun violence, give every American a fair shot in a global economy, and make our country stronger.

If Booker is elected, he is certain to be a key Senate vote for the Obama administration's agenda. And things are looking pretty good for the New Jersey Democrat at this point — he's up 16 points against Republican opponent Steve Lonegan, according to results of a Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll released Tuesday. Fifty-four percent of voters favored Booker, compared to the 38 percent favoring Lonegan.

"I am humbled by President Obama’s endorsement," Booker said. "If elected this October, I will go to the Senate to advance our shared vision of a nation where opportunity is available to anyone willing to work for it, and to ensure we’re investing in the priorities that helped build America’s middle class. The President has taken on the difficult fights... I look forward to continuing to work with him to advance an agenda that spreads prosperity and ensures that our nation realizes the promise of its founding."

Booker won last week's four-way Democratic primary with ease, capturing 59 percent of the vote. His primary campaign was somewhat overshadowed by reports that came out about Waywire, his controversial social media startup. The articles questioned not only how a full-time mayor was able to launch an online video company, but also the way in which the tech moguls and entrepreneurs who served as investors are both funding Booker's Senate campaign and also providing the brainpower and financial resources to help create a company that could potentially make him very wealthy.

The special election is to fill the seat of the late Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg, who died in June at age 89.