Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel has his own running mate.
His name is Barack Obama.
At least that’s the way it looks uptown, where campaign posters show Rangel’s name above the name of his own party’s pick for president.
And some of Rangel’s own constituents aren’t too happy about it.
His top billing is even more remarkable when voters consider that he spent the last two years parading Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton – Obama’s chief Democratic rival – all along 125th Street, residents said.
The turnaround has more than a few people rolling their eyes.
“Charlie never saw a political opportunity he didn’t like,” said Bryan Hoskins, 29, a Harlem resident.
“He might have endorsed McCain if he had been up in the polls.”
“He did what he had to do,” said Yolanda Rich, 43.
“Obama’s bigger than Charlie will ever be. He’d be an idiot not to go for him now.”
It certainly didn’t look like Rangel would be on board 10 months ago, when – on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday – Rangel said the black presidential candidate was “absolutely stupid” for criticizing Clinton on a civil-rights matter.
But, campaign posters aside, joining Team Obama has not been that easy.
First, Rangel, chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was nearly denied a speaking role at the Democratic National Convention.
Then, the Democratic National Committee returned a $100,000 donation Rangel made at his birthday fund-raiser, saying it goes against an Obama ban on PAC money.
“The people are not crazy,” said Craig Schley, a third-party candidate who is trying to unseat Rangel.
“He went above and beyond for Hillary. I don’t think Obama will get support from someone who was in lockstep with the Clintons.”
Rangel’s campaign could not be reached for comment.