Report: Bill Clinton to give Rangel a boost

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is picking up a big endorsement, as former President Clinton is expected to both endorse him and help Rangel campaign this year.

The New York Post reports an anonymous source has said Clinton will “go big for Charlie.”

“Expect fund-raising solicitations and robo-calls to voters,” the source said.

{mosads}Rangel is close to the Clintons — he supported Hillary Clinton in her initial bid for Senate in New York and during her 2008 presidential bid, and Bill Clinton during his impeachment proceedings.

He’s facing his toughest reelection fight yet with two prominent primary challengers, including a rematch with state Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D).

Rangel defeated Espaillat by a little more than 1,000 votes last cycle, and will have to again contend with the shadow of his 2010 Ethics Committee censure that still hangs over his record in Congress. He may also have to answer Espaillat’s charges that he’s been in Congress for too long; Rangel is running for a 23rd term.

Espaillat has managed to peel off a number of Hispanic endorsements from Rangel, but the congressman has in recent weeks rolled out a handful of big-name Democrats backing his bid, including New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.