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By Will Bredderman
Brooklyn Daily
It might have been State of the Union night, but on Feb. 12, Longbow Pub looked more like a Democratic convention.
Mayoral hopefuls Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, former Bay Ridge Councilman Sal Albanese, the Reverend Erick Salgado; Comptroller John Liu; Brooklyn beep hopeful state Sen. Eric Adams; and borough district attorney contender Eric Thompson all converged on the Third Avenue watering hole for the Bay Ridge Democrats’ bash celebrating President Obama’s annual address.
For club president Justin Brannan, the strong turnout of both rank-and-file party members and political contestants — the biggest crowd in the three years the Bay Ridge Dems have held the event — was a sign of the neighborhood’s increasing clout in city affairs.
“Bay Ridge has obviously become the place to be for the State of the Union,” said Brannan. “I think it proves that Bay Ridge is important and that Southwest Brooklyn matters. We are all very engaged and very aware.”
Brannan also chuckled at seeing political rivals lay down arms — and raise glasses — for one night, an image that resonated with Obama’s words.
“It was very cool to see Public Advocate DeBlasio and Comptroller Liu kicking back for a minute, having a pint, and watching the speech,” said Brannan. “Obama began with a quote from John Kennedy about how the Constitution should unite us all as partners for progress instead of rivals for power, and I thought that really summed it all up.”
Reach reporter Will Bredderman at wbredderman@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4507. Follow him at twitter.com/WillBredderman.