Newark mayor addresses Wash. state Dem. convention

[June 02, 2012]  SEATTLE (AP) -- The mayor of Newark, N.J., has told the Washington state Democratic Party convention that the Obama campaign offered some advice as he prepared his Seattle speech -- don't stick your foot in your mouth again.

Cory Booker drew a laugh as part of a warm welcome from his Friday night audience.

Booker earlier drew flak from fellow Democrats for criticizing President Barack Obama's campaign. In a May 20 appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" he described as "nauseating" attack ads against Bain Capital. That's the private equity firm once run by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Booker backed off the remarks in a YouTube video, saying he was just expressing frustration with negative campaigning.

The Seattle Times reports (http://is.gd/Z3tqAC) that Booker's speech touted Obama's record as well as the mayor's take on the Democratic Party's achievements and the need to push hard in the coming election. He also touched on the Washington governor's race, this week's fatal shootings in Seattle and Newark's own experience with violence.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com/

[Associated Press]

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