13,000 for Obama in Cincinnati - Mayor Mark Mallory Endorses Barack

BY HOWARD WILKINSON

Seeing Fifth Third Arena filled to the rafters with about 13,000 wildly enthusiastic supporters Monday afternoon had to be a thrill for Barack Obama, but he was probably no less thrilled by who he was sharing the stage with – Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

Mallory, one of Ohio’s 21 unpledged “superdelegates” who could end up breaking a deadlock for the Democratic presidential nomination, chose Obama’s afternoon rally on the University of Cincinnati campus to announce he is supporting the Illinois senator over Hillary Clinton.

It was an emphatic exclamation point for a day when Obama – trailing in the Ohio polls but closing the gap – held one of his patented, high-energy rallies and held a roundtable discussion on “retirement security” at the Museum Center.

“When I ran for mayor, they said I didn’t have any experience, just like they’ve said about Obama,’’ Mallory said before introducing Obama to the crowd, may of whom had waited for over two hours to hear and see their candidate. “They told me I was all words, all speeches, just like Barack Obama.

“But I tell you now, I have decided to give my endorsement to Barack Obama,’’ Mallory said, setting off a deafening cheer.

Little wonder the Illinois senator hugged the mayor a moment later when he came on stage.

Mallory had been courted hard by both campaigns for the past few months; he told the Enquirer after the rally that he had at least two conversations with each of the candidates over the past two weeks. His judgment, he said, was based on their plans for American cities and their experience dealing with urban problems.

“Hillary’s urban agenda is strong,’’ Mallory said. “But Obama, it seems to me, has more actual experience in urban areas and a really good understanding of what cities face. That’s what did it for me.”