Although state Sen. Mark Schauer recently told a local newspaper that he likes both Democratic candidates for president, a Schauer campaign aide reiterated on Monday that the 7th district House candidate prefers Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) for the Democratic nod — and has supported Clinton since before he announced his bid for Congress last fall.

After a campaign event last week, The (Coldwater) Daily Reporter asked Schauer if he supported Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) for the Democratic nomination.

“I’m excited about both of them,” Schauer replied.

B.J. Neidhardt, Schauer’s campaign manager, said that the state Senator fully supports Clinton as long as she’s in the race for the White House.

Schauer is expected to be the Democratic nominee this fall facing freshman Rep. Tim Walberg (R), who many political observers view as vulnerable despite the GOP lean of his district. The Schauer campaign announced on Monday that it raised more than $300,000 for the first quarter of the year and had about $750,000 in the bank.
— Shira Toeplitz