‘Cruel’: Keller loses it after homeless overwhelmingly endorse his campaign

Anyone driving down Central Avenue lately has noticed an unexpected new fashion trend among Albuquerque’s homeless population: bright yellow “I ❤ Tim Keller” sweatshirts, endorsing his campaign for mayor. The sight has quickly become the most unintentionally comedic moment of the mayoral runoff season — and one of the most embarrassing for Mayor Tim Keller, who is scrambling to distance himself from the stunt.

No one has claimed responsibility for handing out the sweatshirts, which began appearing in the International District around Thanksgiving, just as early voting opened in the Keller–Darren White mayoral runoff. But the image of scores of homeless individuals trudging around in identical pro-Keller apparel instantly raised eyebrows — and laughter — across the city.

One man wearing the sweatshirt made it clear he was not exactly a volunteer brand ambassador. “If it wasn’t so cold, I would take them from everybody, put them in a pile and burn them,” he said, noting he only keeps it on for the warmth.

Keller, not known for his sense of humor, immediately denounced the prank as “disgraceful.” The New Mexico GOP, seizing on the optics, fired back by suggesting Keller himself might be behind it. His campaign, however, snapped back with a statement insisting, “Darren White’s supporters and the Republican Party are attempting to flip the script and falsely blame Mayor Keller for their own cruel Thanksgiving-week stunt.”

White’s campaign wasn’t exactly stressed about the mayor’s indignation. His campaign manager responded that it was “telling that citizens are so frustrated that someone took it upon themselves to protest the mayor in this manner.”

Keller’s team even floated the idea that the sweatshirt stunt could violate campaign finance laws — though they stopped short of any promise to actually investigate. Their statement claimed the shirts amounted to “an unreported dark-money political expenditure” with “no disclaimer, no disclosure… and no attribution.” In other words: a mystery donor with a sense of humor.

The New Mexico GOP took a more pointed tone, accusing Keller of turning the homeless into “political pawns.” Chairwoman Amy Barela blasted the situation, saying, “Using the homeless as political pawns is a new low for Tim Keller and shows just how tone-deaf he is.” The GOP highlighted the skyrocketing homelessness crisis under Keller — nearly 3,000 homeless individuals citywide, including rising numbers of women, children, and veterans — noting the total homeless population has more than doubled since Keller took office.

Keller’s campaign, meanwhile, insisted their supporters were the first to report the sweatshirts and portrayed the prank as a sinister plot from White’s allies meant to embarrass the mayor. “The stunt is backfiring, and people see it for what it is — cruel and inappropriate,” they said.

White’s supporters countered that if the public is resorting to such creative protest, it reflects the deep frustration with Keller’s failures. “If Mayor Keller spent more time changing his failed policies and less time whining about critics, the homeless and the entire city would be better off,” White’s team said.

Whether the stunt was an act of political sabotage, satire, or the world’s most ridiculous clothing donation, one thing is clear: hundreds of “I ❤ Tim Keller” sweatshirts roaming the streets of Albuquerque is the most memorable political moment of the runoff — and perhaps the one Keller wishes the public would forget the fastest.