BRADLEY: Gains Support from the Michael Jordan
Saying that he wants his kids to "grow up in America where everyone has health care, guns are under control, children are being lifted out of poverty and skin color doesn't matter," Michael "Air" Jordan -- former Chicago Bulls superstar and now head of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards -- throws his support behind Democratic presidential contender Bill Bradley in a new ad campaign. The ad will be the first time Jordan has endorsed a candidate for public office, the Washington Post reports. The campaign said today that the 30-second television spots will begin running in 25 big cities where Democratic primaries are slated for March 7 (Connolly/Allen, 2/11). Bradley aides explained that the endorsement will boost the candidate's name-recognition with blacks and younger voters -- two groups his campaign is targeting (Dao, New York Times, 2/11). But not everyone wants to be like Mike: In November, it was announced that Jordan's mother Deloris, was backing Vice President Al Gore's campaign (Meckler, AP/Evansville Courier & Press, 2/10). And not to be outdone, Gore spokesperson Chris Lehane, noting that the VP has his own fans from the hardwood, said, "We have [the support of] Shaquille O'Neal. He's bigger" (Washington Post, 2/11).
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