Obama Endorses Charles Booker in Kentucky Senate Race; Early Voting Tops 267,000
On November 1, former President Barack Obama endorsed Charles Booker, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Kentucky, with just two days left before the November 3 election. Booker said he was "humbled and honored" by the endorsement. His opponent is Republican Rep. Andy Barr; the two are competing for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mitch McConnell, 84, the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history, who is retiring.
Before Obama's endorsement, a group of senators announced their support for Booker on October 31, including Michael Bennet, Mark Kelly, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Van Hollen, Raphael Warnock and Elizabeth Warren. Booker has also been endorsed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and campaigned last week alongside Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.
Kentucky State Board of Elections data show more than 267,000 people have voted during early voting, including 95,645 registered Democrats and 83,726 registered Republicans among those who have cast ballots. The Cook Political Report still rates the race "Solid Republican," but Booker's campaign says its internal polling shows the gap narrowing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 奥巴马2024年在亚利桑那州一场集会上演讲（资料图）。Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United State摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / Barack Obama speaking at a 2024 rally in Arizona (file photo). Photo by Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United State, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
