October 21, 2015
After Vice President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he would not try to succeed Barack Obama, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's campaign figures to get a boost in support from establishment Democrats.
For one Delaware mayor, she jumped the gun on her victory lap one day too early.
The former Secretary of State, on the eve of appearing before the U.S. House's Benghazi committee, has already gained the endorsement of one prominent Delaware Democrat after Joe said no. Governor Jack Markell almost begrudgingly threw his weight behind Clinton after previously acknowledging he would have supported Biden if he had chosen to run.
Biden, a Scranton native who previously served for many years as a U.S. Senator from Delaware, left some state residents rather disappointed following his decision. One Milford resident exclaimed "what the freak!" after an NBC Philadelphia reporter informed her.
Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams may have been thinking the same thing after a Clinton announcement Tuesday. She claimed 50 prominent African American mayors, including previous supporter Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, were endorsing her for president.
Williams was also on the list. Which is awkward, because according to his staff, he hadn't endorsed anyone at the time of that announcement, joining a similar refute from San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor. It came a day before Biden said he wasn't campaigning, and Williams would have supported his state's own had he run. Per CNN:
A spokesman for Mayor Dennis Williams of Wilmington also said he has not yet endorsed Clinton, and would have backed Joe Biden if the vice president had entered the race. Biden announced Wednesday he would not seek the Democratic nomination.
"Mayor Williams has yet to publicly endorse any of the current presidential candidates," Alexandra Coppadge, a spokesman for Williams, told CNN.
He followed up with a Twitter burn Tuesday night:
Incorrect info about an endorsement, I've known @VP Biden since I was 12 yrs old, if he chooses to run, He will receive my support!
— Dennis P. Williams (@DennisPWilliams) October 20, 2015
After the dust had settled and Biden was officially not in the race, Williams did endorse Clinton:
Now that my friend @vp Biden has announced his decision, as the Mayor of Delaware's largest City I support @HillaryClinton for President.
— Dennis P. Williams (@DennisPWilliams) October 21, 2015
Try to contain your enthusiasm, Mayor Williams.
