Last week, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. released a Bronx Week kickoff video. In it there was a not-so-subtle foreshadowing to Diaz’s press conference last Friday morning announcing his endorsement of Charles Rangel in the race for the newly created 13th Congressional District, which stretches from Harlem, through Upper Manhattan and into the northwest Bronx neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Norwood and Bedford Park.

At the 1:22 mark, a still photo of Diaz and Rangel lingers on the screen for about two seconds.

On Friday, Diaz praised Rangel for his extended service in Congress, which stretches more than four decades.

“People have said this is about the future, not the past,” said Diaz, as he made comments in both English and Spanish. “But the past has to count for something.”

Diaz appears to be joined in his support for Rangel by his dad, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., who used one of his “What You Should Know” e-mail blasts to blast the efforts of the MirRam Group, the political consulting firm headed by former Democratic Party chairman Roberto Ramirez and political operator Luis Miranda, for “convincing” Rangel-rival Adriano Espaillat to hire them to work his campaign. He added that more and more Hispanic lawmakers are siding with Rangel.

In the Bronx, however, many elected officials remain on the sidelines.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera came out in strong support of Espaillat weeks before Diaz’s endorsement. And ex-Bronx Borough President Freddy Ferrer also announced his support for Espaillat. Others, including Bronx Party Chairman Carl Heastie, are sitting on the fence.

Editor’s note: A version of this article appears in the May 17-30 print edition of the Norwood News.