NEW YORK — President Obama endorsed fellow Democrat Bill de Blasio on Monday in the race for New York City mayor.
Obama, in a statement, hailed de Blasio's vision of ''progressive change,'' a campaign theme similar to the president's when he was elected in 2008. In endorsing de Blasio, Obama is calling attention to areas of policy overlap, such as expanded prekindergarten, affordable housing, and health care.
''Bill's agenda for New York is marked by bold, courageous ideas that address the great challenges of our time,'' Obama said Monday.
Obama is the latest national Democrat to endorse de Blasio after he became the party's nominee. In the past week, the public advocate was backed by former president Bill Clinton, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and both of New York's senators.
De Blasio said he was ''honored'' by the endorsement and, pledged to work with Obama ''on an urban agenda that grows prosperity for all.''
''I will work every day to advance our shared value of making sure everyone has a fair shot,'' de Blasio said.
In 2009, Obama waited until mid-October to endorse Bill Thompson in the New York race. The delay — and the lukewarm tone of the endorsement — elicited criticism from some Democrats who felt the president should have done more to help Thompson. He lost to incumbent Michael Bloomberg in a race that was far closer than expected.
Although Obama has actively raised money for national Democratic campaign committees during his second term, he's mostly steered clear of endorsing individual candidates. But last month, Obama endorsed Cory Booker in his race for US Senate.
De Blasio will face Republican nominee Joe Lhota and independent candidates in the Nov. 5 election. Lhota downplayed the presidential endorsement. ''I fully expected the president would be supporting Bill de Blasio. That's not a surprise at all,'' he said.