Biden endorses Nicole Galloway for Missouri governor. Here’s why it matters
Missouri gubernatorial candidate Nicole Galloway received a noteworthy endorsement Monday: from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“I am proud to endorse Nicole for Governor, and know she will continue to fight for access to affordable, quality health care, improving public schools, and bringing good-paying jobs to the state,” the former vice president said in a statement.
The bigger news, though, might be that she embraced it.
“I can’t think of a leader who is better suited for this moment and I am honored to have his support in this race,” Galloway, who is challenging Republican incumbent Mike Parson, said in her statement.
This is a little more than business as usual. Galloway is aligning herself with Biden in a state where Donald Trump won by better than 18 points over Democrat Hillary Clinton 2016. Past Democratic candidates have kept their distance from the national party.
Then-Sen. Claire McCaskill, ahead of her loss to Sen. Josh Hawley, pushed radio ads assuring voters that she was a sensible Missourian and “not one of those crazy Democrats.”
Galloway seems to be betting that Trump’s popularity in Missouri has diminished some since 2016. Missouri polls are scant, but they do indicate Trump with a smaller — although still comfortable — lead over Biden. The Real Clear Politics average of available surveys has Trump up by 7.7%.
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 12:06 PM.
