Chuck & Hil Back Freddy

The Ferrer campaign continued its Democratic muscle-flexing Friday, nabbing the endorsements of Sens. Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton. The event at LaGuardia Community College was a testament not only to Freddy's new status as Democratic nominee, but also to the advantages of being around awhile. Schumer, introduced by a nearly giddy Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan ("Senator Schumer is so smart!!" she gushed), reflected on 30 years of knowing Freddy, calling him "the quintessential example of the greatness of this city." Clinton noted that Ferrer endorsed her husband for president in 1991.

The LaGuardia lovefest came a day after the big Democratic unity rally at City Hall. Ferrer gave a rousing speech, embracing his ethnic-pioneer status ("The way I was raised, when you walk through a door you keep it open for those behind you.") and building several strong passages around a "this is our city" refrain. The sequence of events suggested a little momentum building for Ferrer, which is obviously what they are supposed to suggest. But some in Freddy's camp say that people in the nabes are genuinely getting into it. "Now, they're starting to believe. They thought that this billionaire was invincible. Now that's no longer the case," Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr., told the Voice. "It gets to a point where it's bigger than Freddy Ferrer. People take this personally."

Neither Clinton nor Schumer said anything nasty about Mayor Bloomberg. For his part, as the city's Democrats appeared to unite behind his general election opponent, the mayor broke with GOP leaders and announced his opposition to the nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court.