While making the mid-term election rounds on the mainland for the Democratic Party, President Barack Obama turned his sights on the territory this week with a public endorsement of Gov. John deJongh Jr.
“Governor deJongh is a proven leader," Obama said in a statement released Tuesday by deJongh’s campaign, which was verified by White House Communications Department contacts in Washington, D.C.
"He has done a tremendous job and deserves reelection," the president said. "His hard work has led to steady improvement in the Virgin Islands and his efforts to build the local economy and improve public education and health care for all in the territory have been impressive. I am proud to stand with John, and his running mate Greg Francis, and support their campaign for reelection.”
This is the first time in recent history that anyone can remember a U.S. president backing a locally elected governor.
DeJongh said in statement Tuesday that he was "honored" to have gotten the presidential nod.
Later, speaking at his son’s football game during a chance interview, deJongh said, "I think what it means more for the Virgin Islands is, in addition to being a Democrat, that the president is supportive of the policies that Greg and I have put in place.
"And [Obama’s] always been supportive, even from the first time I endorsed him back in 2007 when he was running for office," deJongh added. "And that shows — it shows in the grant funding we’ve received, his assistance with things like the St. John school and the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funding we’ve gotten. So it means a lot to the territory that the president is supportive of us."
Obama twice visited the territory while on the presidential campaign trail—first in 2007 to attend a local Democratic Party fundraiser held in his honor and then again in March 2008 to hit the green at St. Thomas’ popular Mahogany Run Golf Course.
