President Obama may not be able to cast a ballot for Chicago Democrat Robin Kelly, who hopes to fill the seat vacated by the embattled Jesse Jackson Jr., but that hasn't stopped him from having his say.

On April 2, the president endorsed Kelly, a former state senator, and saluted her commitment to end gun violence, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Kelly will face off with Republican Paul McKinley, a convicted felon, and Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones in a special general election on April 9.

"I share Robin's passionate advocacy to end gun violence with common-sense solutions because like her, I believe families impacted by gun violence — especially in my home city of Chicago — deserve a vote," Obama said in a statement. "I urge you to elect Robin Kelly as your representative in the United States Congress."

Kelly tweeted words of gratitude.

"I am proud today to have the endorsement of my friend, President Barack Obama. I look forward to working with him in Washington," she said.

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(Photo: Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)