Tong accepts endorsement from San Fran Mayor

While other candidates for U.S. Senate – like Democrat U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and Republican Linda McMahon – are touting endorsements from local leaders and organizations, state Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford today announced support from the West Coast.

Tong in an email and on his website said his candidacy to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Stamford has the backing of San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee.

“Mayor Ed Lee has given much of his professional life in service of the city of San Francisco. He served as Director of Public Works and City Administrator there for many years, and in 2011, he became the city’s first Asian-American mayor,” Tong wrote.

Tong was the first Asian-American elected to the Connecticut General Assembly.

While some might scratch their heads over the relevance of a California politician’s endorsement to Connecticut politics, Tong is seeking broad support from the Asian-American community (here’s one example, here’s another) to overcome better known Democratic rivals Murphy and ex-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.

At the least, here’s hoping we get some colorful Lee-style campaigning from Tong…

Brian Lockhart