Bill Clinton endorsing Wendy Greuel? But why?*

This is certainly good news - at least it's headline news - for a campaign that's been a little glassy-eyed of late. And yet it's hard to understand how the former president has much genuine understanding of L.A.'s problems or why the L.A. Controller would be all that superior a choice than City Councilman Eric Garcetti. Both Greuel and Garcetti are Democrats, both are quite similar ideologically, and both are earnest, decent people. Why Wendy over Eric? From the LAT:

Clinton has often endorsed people who have been loyal to his family, either helpful during his time at the White House or supporters of his wife's unsuccessful 2008 presidential run. Greuel fits both categories -- in addition to being an early and active backer of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, she worked in the Clinton administration at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In announcing his support, Clinton highlighted Greuel's time at HUD. "When the Northridge earthquake struck -- causing so much loss of life and destruction -- Wendy sprang into action," Clinton wrote. "She helped deliver over a billion dollars in federal emergency aid to Los Angeles residents and worked around the clock to assist families who lost their homes."

Sprang into action? More than anyone else back home? And if she did such a great job with Northridge, why haven't we heard more about it? (I'm sure we will at an event later today in the Valley.) Maybe the biggest question is why Clinton felt the need to put his nose into this at all? It's not as if his endorsement will necessarily mean much - as the Times points out, he actively supported Gavin Newsom over Jerry Brown in the governor's race and we know how well that worked. Of course, he did help rescue President Obama from the brink.

*Reader has an interesting point: "If Gruel wins election as mayor, her endorsement of Hilary Clinton in 2016 is more important than if she loses. This may help Gruel win and it ensures her loyalty."