THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release October 9, 2009

PRESS BRIEFING
BY PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

12:12 P.M. EDT

Q Robert, a question about local politics, if I may, a

topic that you've addressed before. Just for the sake of
clarity, can you say who exactly the President supports in the
mayoral race up in the city?

MR. GIBBS: New York City.

Q Yes, sir. (Laughter.)

Q New York-centric over there. There's more than one

city. (Laughter.)

MR. GIBBS: No, no, I was poking him just a little bit to
see what --

Q "The city." (Laughter.)

MR. GIBBS: I noticed I phrase the question --

Q No, Miami. (Laughter.)

MR. GIBBS: You guys call yourselves what, "The U" now?
That's a little -- that might be a little much for most college
football fans. (Laughter.)

Getting back to the serious, Ken, the President is the

leader of the Democratic Party, and as that, would support the
Democratic nominee. The President obviously has had a chance
to, throughout campaigning and in his time both as a candidate
and as a President, to meet, know and work with Mayor Bloomberg,
and obviously has a tremendous amount of respect for what he's
done as well.

Q But he supports --
 MR. GIBBS: He, as the leader of the Democratic Party,
supports the Democratic nominee.