Ex-mayor Filner expresses support for embattled Carl DeMaio

Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner made a surprise appearance today at a press conference organized by Congressional candidate Carl DeMaio. Reporters had shown up expecting to hear DeMaio respond to allegations of sexual harassment made by a former staffer, Todd Bosnich. (DeMaio's campaign has denied the claims from the get-go, but questions continue to swirl over the circumstances that led to Bosnich's departure from the campaign, with each side accusing the other of egregious falsehood.) Instead, they got an earful from a man who was himself run out of office after a string of women who claimed he sexually harassed them.

"I know that Carl and I have had our differences," began Filner. "Heck, we even ran against each other for mayor! I won, of course, but even so, I knew Carl had a bright political future ahead of him. Looking at him, I saw something of myself: the same passion, the same urgency, the same drive to make things happen, no matter who said no. Carl DeMaio is a man who knows what he wants, and who has the cojones to go out and grope it. Grab it — I mean 'Grab it.' To see all that talent and promise jeopardized by unsubstantiated claims of sexual harassment that, I must add, have never been proven in a court of law — well, it's just tragic. Speaking as the victim of a similar campaign of smears and unsubstantiated allegations, it seemed like the least I could do was to speak out on Carl's behalf. Write this down, world: Bob Filner is proud to stand with Carl DeMaio on this one."

As he left the podium, Filner flashed his famous grin at the struggling candidate. For his part, DeMaio was clearly moved by the gesture of support, at one point pausing to wipe a tear from his eye.