Al Kissling, a Democratic candidate for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce, says he never agreed to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.
The campaign included him in two news releases announcing endorsements from around the state in the days leading up to Tuesday’s caucus.
“I never endorsed the Hillary campaign. I went to both events. I thought they were both very interesting and well-done,” Kissling said. “I support both candidates, but I have not endorsed either.”
Kissling originally told me this on Monday during the visit to Las Cruces by Michelle Obama, but said at the time that he didn’t want me to write anything. He called today to say he had changed his mind.
Clinton’s New Mexico spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.
As things stand, Clinton has a 1,092-vote lead in New Mexico, with 67,921 votes to Barack Obama’s 66,829 votes. There’s still one polling place in Sandoval County that hasn’t been counted, and work began today on consideration of about 17,000 provisional ballots.
Update, 12:45 p.m.
Mara Lee, Clinton’s New Mexico campaign director, said the campaign made a mistake in announcing Kissling as an endorser. She said the campaign “confirmed that he was a supporter early on” but he never agreed to a public endorsement. Kissling told me he initially privately supported Clinton, but did not agree to endorse, and has since decided he likes both candidates.
“It was essentially miscommunication on our end and we apologize that we could have inconvenienced him,” Lee said.
Al Kissling, a Democratic candidate for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce, says he never agreed to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.