WASHINGTON–Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias got a show of support from the Obama White House on Tuesday, with Giannoulias here for a Greek Independence Day reception and a meeting with senior advisor David Axelrod.
At the Tuesday briefing, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about the purpose of Giannoulias meeting with White House aides.
“Well, obviously he knows — he knows David from Chicago. I don’t know whether he’s going to meet with Patrick while he’s here,” Gibbs said, a reference to Patrick Gaspard, who handles politics for the White House.
Said Gibbs, “Alexi Giannoulias is the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate and has the support and the backing of the White House.”
Giannoulias, the state treasurer and a basketball playing buddy of Obama, is running for Obama’s old Senate seat against GOP nominee Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (R-Ill.).
Giannoulias trip to the White House was first disclosed Monday in this blog.