Big name in Rochester politics is backing Obama

Sen. Barack Obama picked up endorsements from several noteworthy names in Rochester Friday, including former mayor Bill Johnson.

"The thing I find the most appealing is that he's been able to mobilize so many young people, and people of different races and social classes to his candidacy," said Bill Johnson. "If the Democrats are going to win in November, then it's going to be with that kind of candidate going forward."

On Sen. Hillary Clinton: "I have tremendous admiration for Senator Clinton. I worked with her when she ran for Senate in 2000. She's done a lot for this city, but I just worry that the Republicans will spend too much time dredging up old issues from her husband's past, and that's going to be a distraction the country doesn't need."

On Obama's relative inexperience: "That was a charge against me. I had no political experience when I came to office. I think this man is extraordinarily bright, I think he's talented, and I think he knows the right people to surround himself with."

Johnson spoke to the media at the Damon Campus Center on Main Street in Downtown Rochester.

Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden also endorsed Obama, as did Willa Powell, Tom Brennan, and Allen K. Williams, all Commissioners of Education.

Mitt missing, and What's your big issue?

- Kevin Jolly went to the Henrietta Senior Center on Wednesday, to ask our "Eye on the Vote" question: What's your big issue?

"I hear all these candidates talking about change, but I don't think I've heard any specific issues being addressed." - Chuck Greenlee

"Most of us are on fixed incomes. We get a social security increase once a year... a lot of us have IRA's, CD's... it's all tied into the economy. As the stock market goes, there goes our income." - Jim Marventano

"Social Security's in muddy water. They're even talking about giving illegal immigrants social security. They're robbing Peter to give to Paul when they take it out of my Social Security to give it to somebody else." - Miles Benson

"Do I have money for food this month, or do I buy medication, or do I have to split my prescription so that I can be able to have some food, or be able to get about, even getting to an from the doctor's office?" - Patricia Floyd

So what's your big issue? Let us know by leaving a comment.

- Evan Axelbank points out something interesting here. Mitt Romney seems to have no foothold in WNY. McCain has a well-known radio host running his local campaign. Sen. Hillary Clinton has a Rochester HQ set up, as does Sen. Barack Obama. Obama and Mike Huckabee have established local "meet-up" groups on the Internet. The only candidate missing is Romney, whose campaign said it's setting up grassroots efforts across New York. That may be too little, too late.

Eye on the Vote: What is it?

Throughout the election cycle, this blog will update you with the latest information on candidates and races that are relevant to your life in Rochester. We're asking you to make it complete.

That's the idea behind "Eye on the Vote." Excited about a certain race? Let us know. How was your experience going to vote? Who's doing a good (or bad) job campaigning? How could we improve our coverage? Let us know.

We'll be asking questions regularly on this blog, and we'd love to hear from you.

Today, we want to know -- What's your big issue? What stance makes or breaks a candidate in your eyes, and gets you excited about going to the polls?

Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Campaign '08 on RochesterHomepage.net

Welcome to the News 8 Now/Fox Rochester blog of Campaign '08.

We're 6 days away from Super Tuesday, when New York and more than twenty other states will help select candidates for President.

The field is narrowing. One day after the Florida primary, Rudy Giuliani (R) and John Edwards (D) both abandoned their White House bids. This leaves Tuesday's field down to 2 Democrats and 4 Republicans, and Sen. Hillary Clinton as New York's sole candidate.