John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has endorsed Republican Bruce Blakeman in his campaign against Democrat Kathleen Rice for New York’s 4th Congressional District seat.
Bolton announced his endorsement on Friday after attending a Blakeman fundraising event on Thursday in Lawrence as the candidate’s keynote guest.
“I’m glad to endorse and enthusiastically support Bruce Blakeman for Congress,” Bolton said. “Bruce is a problem-solver who has never been afraid to be independent. He knows how to make a positive difference in people’s lives and believes in an America that is strong at home and abroad. As the only candidate in this race with an economic plan, Bruce’s strong support of Israel also sets him far ahead from President Obama, Kathleen Rice and the Democrats.”
Rice campaign spokesman Coleman Lamb said in a statement that an endorsements from backers like Bolton “prove that Blakeman is even more out of touch with our community’s needs than we thought.”
“John Bolton is a Washington insider best known as an architect of the Iraq War and the WMD blunder that led to it, and Bruce Blakeman is a Nassau insider best known for raising taxes and leading the county into financial ruin a decade ago,” Lamb said. “Endorsements from political insiders like John Bolton will get him zero votes from a district that wants independent leadership and advocacy for the middle class.”
According to a Blakeman campaign news release, Bolton’s political action committee has endorsed or made financial contributions to the campaigns of 26 candidates. His PAC and Super PAC have raised a combined $4.5 million and currently have more than $3 million cash on hand.
“As the United States’ former ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton is an expert in foreign affairs and national security,” Blakeman said. “Nassau County residents are fed up with the failed Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda on issue after issue that has led to a weak economy, increased taxes and an indecisive foreign policy. I’m running for Congress to make America strong again. I’m delighted to accept Ambassador Bolton’s enthusiastic support of our campaign to change Washington.”
New York’s 4th Congressional District, which covers Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, the Five Towns, Lynbrook, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Garden City, Hempstead, Long Beach, Malverne, Merrick, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Uniondale, West Hempstead and Westbury.
