Former Mayor Mitch Landrieu endorsed Helena Moreno in the race for New Orleans' open mayoral seat Wednesday, further strengthening the consensus frontrunner's backing by political heavyweights.

In a video posted on social media, Landrieu said he knows and likes all of the three major candidates for the city's top office — Moreno, Councilmember Oliver Thomas and state Sen. Royce Duplessis .

Moreno, he said, "stands above the rest."

"She's tough, she's smart, she knows what to do," Landrieu says in the segment, which he recorded in front of Jackson Square in the French Quarter. "She includes everybody in the work that's going to be important to the city going forward."

Landrieu's endorsement, which came several days into early voting for the Oct. 11 primary, adds to robust support

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