President Obama and Sen. Chuck Schumer were for Harold Ford Jr. before they were against him.
In 2006, both men – who were senators at the time – heaped praise on Ford Jr., then a Tennessee congressman seeking to join them in the Club of 100 in his home state.
Politics for the betterment of everyoen is “the kind of politics Harold Ford exemplifies, and that’s why I’m here today,” Obama said at an event, according to the Associated Press.
“We’ve got a spirit of hope in the campaign of a young man who represents everything about the future of America right here in Tennessee,” Obama said at another point, according to the Tennessean.
There was more.
“You are one great candidate,” Schumer told Ford during the ’06 race, according to the Los Angeles Times.
And Congressional Quarterly quoted schumer saying he was a “great fundraiser and has a national following.”
Schumer spokesman Josh Vlasto, asked to comment, said, “Those were statements made about a candidate for a Tennessee Senate seat in 2006.”
Both Schumer and Obama are firmly behind Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who Ford is weighing a challenge to.