Rangel links himself to Obama on primary day

Rep. Charlie Rangel, who voted today in the Democratic congressional primary, is facing a challenge from State Sen. Adriano Espaillat and three other candidates. (Jon Lentz)

After navigating through a crowd of reporters and photographers to cast his primary vote in Harlem today, Congressman Charlie Rangel sought to link his campaign to President Barack Obama.

From the ongoing fiscal crisis and income inequality to healthcare reform and the high number of young people going to prison, Rangel asserted he was the only candidate in the Democratic primary race who could combat the ongoing problems and defend the president’s policies.

“It wasn’t the identification with his color,” Rangel said of the reason he had been inspired by President Obama. “It was the identification with his ideas. The fact that he realized that all Americans have to be invested in an education, and research and science, not because it’s the right thing to do, but if we’re going to compete with other nations, we cannot do it with a population that should be creative, rotting away in jail.”

He also applauded Obama for pushing through healthcare reform to address the problem of sick, uninsured people relying on emergency rooms. The Supreme Court is set to issue a ruling on the president’s landmark legislation later this week.

“We have to stop it,” Rangel said of the many uninsured people relying on emergency rooms. “Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals know we have to do it. Then he came with this exciting idea, that was adopted by Romney in Massachusetts, and hopefully will be adopted this week by the courts.”

Rangel, who touted his support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg and other elected officials, started his press conference outside the polling station by seeking to dispel what he called “nonsense questions,” including concerns about his age and his ability to serve.

“Am I too old to run for re-election?” he asked. “Clearly, I’ve gone through the process. I’ve done what candidates are supposed to do. … I don’t think anybody that’s running – or not running – should challenge my health.”

Rangel also sought to dispel questions about any divide between African Americans and Latinos in the district. He pointed out that some voters are both African American and Latino, adding that the “Statue of Liberty, some people believe it.

State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who is of Dominican descent, has mounted a strong challenge to Rangel, and could capitalize on the growing number of Latinos in the district. Clyde Williams, Craig Schley and Joyce Johnson are also up for election in today’s Democratic primary.

“I’ve been so fortunate in this campaign that none of them, not one of them, has ever indicated they can do the job better,” Rangel said. “I believe that I’m the person that can best pick up the baton that we need to need to move forward from where we used to be, who can create new jobs, educate our kids and move forward.”

As he was leaving the press conference, Rangel said he believes that Espaillat would not run for re-election if Espaillat loses in today’s primary. There have been reports of circulations being petitioned for Espaillat to run for re-election to the state Senate, but Espaillat has denied authorizing the effort.

“And if he says that, truth being such an important issue with voters consideration, I want truly to believe that, and it will only be tomorrow morning that we’ll find out for certain,” Rangel said.