De Blasio won’t endorse Clinton without details on her ‘vision’

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) on Sunday said he would not back Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign until she clarifies her message for voters.

{mosads}“I think like a lot of people in this country I want to see a vision,” de Blasio told host Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

De Blasio said Clinton would make an excellent choice for the Democratic nomination. All the same, he said, he desires definitive positions from any presidential candidate.

“Substance and vision does it,” said de Blasio, the campaign manager for Clinton’s successful New York Senate election in 2000.

“It’s a much different time than 2008,” he added, alluding to her last entrance into a White House race. “There are a lot of new issues and new material for Hillary to address.”

Clinton is expected to announce her 2016 candidacy in a video released Sunday afternoon. De Blasio said she was a strong contender against both Republicans and other Democrats too.

“She is one of the most qualified people to ever run for this office,” de Blasio argued. “I think she’s a tremendous public servant.”

De Blasio added that any Democratic presidential candidate should boldly stand for the party’s interests, and he urged Democrats to test Clinton, one way or another.

“She doesn’t need to be vetted,” the New York mayor admitted.

“She does need to address the issues, and that can be done with or without a primary,” he said.

Potential competitors include former Democratic Govs. Martin O’Malley (Md.) and Jim Webb (Va.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Democrats have long pressed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) to seek the Oval Office as well. The popular lawmaker said last month she would not run in 2016.