Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has gotten a key endorsement in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary: longtime state political operative Dudley Dudley.
The endorsement is particularly bad for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley since Dudley has hosted him in both her Durham, New Hampshire homes less than two months ago and he filmed parts of his campaign video there,
CNN reports.
Sanders already has skyrocketed in the polls in New Hampshire, where he is running second to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He currently is only eight points behind, compared to 38 points in May.
Dudley said Sander's focus on money in politics won her over, and that she was impressed with how he delivers his message, CNN said.
"He's very believable. A lot of people seem to say a lot of things that don't come to pass. I feel that he is compelling and trustworthy and I'm hoping that he will get the nomination," Dudley said. "I particularly like what he has to say about Citizens United, about the need to have a more just tax system in this country, and to even out the income inequality. He has a way of stating it in a way that is no nonsense and so straight forward."
Sanders, an independent socialist, has been drawing crowds of 500 throughout the state and recently
drew 10,000 people to Madison, Wisconsin.
Dudley told CNN her endorsement of Sanders did not indicate opposition to the other candidates, but is just a preference for how he gets his views across.
But she admitted Sanders will have a hard time winning the party's nomination and the general election.
"Neither (race) is going to be a cakewalk, but I think that his stamina and energy and points of view will carry him through," Dudley said.
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