Boston Mayor Thomas Menino endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren for United States Senate during a pro-Warren rally in Roslindale on Friday.  

Menino, a Democrat, said he did not endorse Warren right away because he "wanted to get to know her" first. And he came to his final decision by pretending he wasn't the mayor, he said. 

"What if I was just a guy from Hyde Park who had a job with the city, whose wife was an accountant and worried about their retirement savings," he said. "What if I was any guy who wondered how his two kids would send his six grandkids to college, and whether they would have good jobs on the other end.  If I wasn’t the Mayor, who would speak up in Washington on my behalf? I thought to myself, if I was any guy from Hyde Park, Elizabeth would have my back, and so I have hers,” he said. 

Warren told supporters she was "deeply honored" by Menino's support. 
 
“Tom Menino has long been one of the most powerful voices for working families here in the Commonwealth and throughout the country," she said. "Throughout all of the amazing achievements of his career, he has never lost sight of where he came from - the neighborhoods of Boston. His tireless advocacy has helped revitalize Boston's neighborhoods, create a vibrant city, and strengthen our schools so that our kids and families have a fair shot at success and the American dream. I am proud to stand with Mayor Menino and I look forward to working together on this campaign and in our efforts to fight for a level playing field for hardworking men and women here in Boston and across Massachusetts.”

Warren is facing incumbent Senator Scott Brown in a tight race that has seen multiple lead changes through polling in the last few weeks. The two faced off in their first debate on Thursday night.