Obama endorses Feinstein
SACRAMENTO >> Former President Barack Obama waded into California’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Friday, throwing his support to incumbent Dianne Feinstein.
It’s his only primary endorsement in congressional races so far in 2018, spokeswoman Katie Hill said.
He urged Californians to return “one of America’s most effective champions for progress to the Senate,” in a statement released by Feinstein’s campaign.
Feinstein is seeking her fifth full term in Washington and her most credible challenger is state Sen. Kevin de León, who argues she hasn’t done enough to stand up to President Donald Trump. On Friday, he seized on fresh comments she made to the Sacramento Bee about Trump’s upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Feinstein told the Bee a meeting between Trump and Kim would offer him a chance to “really show that he can be consistent, stable, good negotiator.”
She said she believes Trump is smart enough to know he must use caution in dealing with Kim, whom she called “craven.” But she acknowledged such a meeting “could go badly.”
De León slammed her response, telling the Bee, “Trump has proven consistently that he’s inconsistent, unstable and one of the worst negotiators we have ever seen.”
The June 5 primary will send the two highest vote getters to the general election, regardless of party.