By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

January 20, 2012 -- In the wake of several Westside Democratic clubs endorsing Torie Osborn in the Democratic primary for State Assembly, Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom says he remains positive about his campaign.

Over the past two weeks, the Malibu Democratic Club, the Santa Monica Democratic Club and the Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains voted to endorse Osborn over Bloom and Assembly member Betsy Butler, to represent California's 50th District in the State Assembly.

“This is a competitive race,” Bloom said Thursday, adding that with Santa Monica comprising 22 percent of potential voters within the district, the beachside city of 90,000 is an important one for the candidates.

Bloom said that he is not worried about failing get those organizations' endorsement in the June 5 primary.

“These are partisan organizations,” he said, adding that “each club has its own 'flavor.'”

Osborn's image as an “an activist with an MBA” has struck a chord with organizations such as the Santa Monica Democratic Club, 77 percent of whose members' supported her earlier this week.

Butler received 13 percent, while Bloom received nine percent.

The Santa Monica Democratic Club's "impact on the election is relatively marginal,” said Bloom, who is a former member of the club. He added that these organizations often swell in ranks just before endorsing a candidate, sometimes giving an impression of inflated support.

In Malibu, Osborn cleaned up with 41 votes, while Butler received five and Bloom none. The remaining 13 members voted not to endorse a candidate.

In the Pacific Palisades, an area insulated from similar politicking, the Democratic club opted for no endorsement, Bloom said.

The candidates have been vying for endorsements from community leaders and political organizations for months.

Bloom counts among his supporters the Santa Monica Firefighters and Police Officers Associations as well as the mayors of Beverly Hills, Cupertino, Santa Barbara, Inglewood, Oakley, Malibu, Novato, Redlands, Murietta, and Laguna Beach.

Aside from the local democratic clubs, Osborn garnered the support of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and State Assembly member Julia Brownley.

The Osborn campaign also announced yesterday that she had received an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats, a grassroots Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender group in West Hollywood.