Obama Endorses Gov. Raimondo's Re-election Bid

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Gina Raimondo picked up perhaps her biggest endorsement of her 2018 re-election campaign on Monday. Former President Barack Obama is now behind her campaign, adding to endorsements from prominent Democrats like former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. John Lewis.

Obama's endorsement comes a day after Biden visited Providence to rally support for Raimondo and other local Democrats.

“I am honored to have the support of President Obama,” Raimondo said in a press release. “For eight years, President Obama brought much-needed change to our nation. He strengthened the economy and passed the Affordable Care Act to provide millions of Americans with access to health care. Over the last four years, we’ve brought similar change to Rhode Island and we cannot afford to put that change at risk."

Though pundits believe Raimondo is the favorite, a WPRI/Roger Williams University poll shows that the race with Cranston Mayor Allan Fung is still within single digits. Raimondo leads 43 percent to 36 percent.

Fung has received the endorsement of one former primary opponent and former Alex and Ani CEO Giovanni Feroce, but has yet to get the endorsement of House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, who also ran against Fung in the primaries.

Morgan told WPRI 12 she hasn't decided if she will endorse Fung or independent candidate Joe Trillo. Trillo is a former Republican state representative.

"There are actually two Republicans in the race," Morgan told WPRI 12. "I will make a decision between the two of them."

Photo credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Staff