THE BRONX — When Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds her official campaign kickoff on Roosevelt Island Saturday, Mayor Bill de Blasio says he won't be there.
The mayor, who has worked for both Bill and Hillary Clinton, has held out on endorsing his former boss because he says he wants to hear a progressive vision from her.
Clinton has rolled out initial ideas about ending the mass incarceration of black men, tackling income inequality and ending discriminatory policing. Those ideas will be expanded upon Saturday during what is expected to be a speech laying out the themes of her second run for president
De Blasio said Wednesday that it wasn't enough.
"I've been very impressed by the comments she's given so far on a host of issues," de Blasio said. "What I am waiting to hear about is the fight against income inequality, how we raise wages and benefits, how we create the progressive taxation system we need."
De Blasio's refusal to endorse Clinton on NBC's "Meet the Press" the day she announced her long-expected campaign created a firestorm in April.
Clinton loyalists accused de Blasio of grandstanding. Democratic strategist and Clinton supporter Hilary Rosen said Clinton was fighting for progressive causes before de Blasio "could even articulate any vision at all."
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, whose wife Huma Abedin is a top Clinton aide, said de Blasio's stance was "wrong and unhelpful."
Clinton endorsed de Blasio when he ran for mayor in 2013.
Democratic strategists say de Blasio's refusal to endorse Clinton is part of a larger effort to position himself as one of the leaders of the left wing of the Democratic Party along with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
De Blasio has been criticized for national and international trips to speak about income inequality and the roll out of a progressive agenda in Washington D.C. last month intended to impact the upcoming presidential elections.
Democratic Party insiders say its highly unlikely that de Blasio will endorse anyone other than Clinton. It's just that now his announcement will garner much more media attention.
The mayor had positive things to say about long-shot Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday.
"I've always liked what I heard from Bernie Sanders," de Blasio said. "I think Bernie Sanders is a great senator and a great voice for a fairer society and a fairer economy."
He said there's no rush to endorse Clinton.
"I think it's best to hear the ideas and then make a decision. I'm very impressed by what she's saying so far and look forward to hearing more," de Blasio said. "It's June. The election is next year. There's plenty of time."
