i would say hes almost like a joe manchin. they run a republican light type to win that state just so the dems as a party can have a seat there. blue dog democrat if youve heard of that term. and obama picked him prob to not scare white people that were scared of the first black president.
on deblasio, he is fake progressive but on this issue i think hes legit saying it, part of me now wishes he was on the same debate panel as biden, i actually think deblasio, he has no shot at winning but he could have a presence in the debates. almost like a chris christie for the republicans last time
But he tries, I'd give him a cab position or something (just nothing to do with transit 
).
