Nina Turner changes her mind on Hillary Clinton, endorses Bernie Sanders for President

Former State Sen. Nina Turner arrives at her 2013 campaign kickoff for Ohio secretary of state. Turner announced Thursday that she is backing Bernie Sanders for president. (Chuck Crow, Plain Dealer Publishing Co.)

By Henry J. Gomez, cleveland.com
on November 12, 2015 at 5:03 PM, updated November 12, 2015 at 9:36 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Nina Turner, the former state senator from Cleveland and a top Ohio Democratic Party official, is ditching Hillary Clinton in favor of Bernie Sanders.

Turner and Sanders' presidential campaign confirmed the endorsement Thursday.

"I'm very attracted by his message and his style -- and that he has held pretty much strong on his beliefs and the world is catching up with him," Turner said.

Turner added that Sanders' positions on voting rights and wage issues have stood out to her. While she is expected to be active in his campaign, a Sanders spokeswoman said whatever role Turner has will not be paid.

Turner spoke to cleveland.com by telephone before flying to Iowa, where she will attend Saturday's Democratic debate featuring Clinton, Sanders and Martin O'Malley.

She also will introduce Sanders at his Monday rally at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.

The Vermont senator, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, has emerged as Clinton's strongest Democratic primary rival.

"We are extremely, extremely humbled by the support of Sen. Nina Turner," Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said. "She is nationally known as a voice for voting rights, for workers' rights and for marginalized people. The support of someone with that record of standing up for middle-income and working people is tremendously important."

The move comes as a surprise -- and a blow for Clinton. Turner had been among her most enthusiastic cheerleaders in the Buckeye State and nationally. She was involved early with the Ready for Hillary super political action committee that promoted Clinton as a presidential candidate before the former U.S. secretary of state launched her campaign.

Turner spoke last fall in New York and earlier this year at a Cleveland fundraiser for the now-defunct organization. In June, she spoke at a grassroots-organizing event for the Clinton campaign in Cleveland. She also had served on the board of Correct the Record, another pro-Clinton super PAC but recently severed ties.

And Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, sent a letter on Turner's behalf last year that sought donations for her ultimately unsuccessful run for Ohio secretary of state.

Turner said Thursday that, despite her efforts on Clinton's behalf, she had not formally endorsed the former U.S. secretary of state. Clinton, she said did not lose her support so much as Sanders earned it with his attention to issues dear to her. She stressed that her decision had nothing to do with controversy over Clinton's private email server.

"Yes, I was out there, 'ready' [for Clinton], because I wanted to make sure Democrats were ready," Turner said. "I thought it was important to show that Democrats were ready to go right back at it for 2015 and 2016. This has nothing to do with the secretary."

Turner, who is frequently mentioned as a future candidate for mayor of Cleveland, said she will take a leave of absence from her role as the Ohio Democratic Party's engagement chair as she helps Sanders with his bid for the nomination. She said her endorsement, which party insiders had been buzzing about for days once they heard it was possible, has resulted in some pushback from Clinton loyalists in Ohio.

"I was approached by a Clinton supporter who said that I am doing a disservice to the country," Turner said. "It was very insulting."

Clinton doesn't lack for prominent Ohio supporters. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown announced his backing two weeks ago. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights endorsed her in July. Reps. Tim Ryan of the Youngstown area and Joyce Beatty of Columbus also are on board. And former Gov. Ted Strickland, a U.S. Senate candidate, is a longtime Clinton ally in the Buckeye State.

The Ohio Democratic Party, meanwhile, is emphasizing its neutrality.

"The Ohio Democratic Party has not endorsed in the 2016 presidential primary -- we welcome, support and work with all Democratic candidates as they compete for the nomination and come to Ohio to talk with voters," state party spokeswoman Kirstin Alvanitakis said Thursday.

"Given this stance, Sen. Turner will take a leave of absence from her leadership role as chair of Party Engagement while serving as a national surrogate for the Sanders campaign. Her tireless work for the party has been so important in engaging Ohio voters, and while we will certainly miss her passion and fearlessness, we wish her nothing but the best in her new role and look forward to her return following the conclusion of the primary."