WEST PALM BEACH — President Obama’s visit to Coral Gables later today to raise money for Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein underscores the high partisan stakes in the congressional District 22 race.

But Klein, facing a tough challenge from Republican Allen West, sought to emphasize his bipartisan appeal this morning by appearing with two elected Republicans — Palm Beach Mayor Jack McDonald and Riviera Beach Council Chairwoman Dawn Pardo — who are endorsing him. Also backing Klein at the city waterfront was David Brady, the Republican who got 23.3 percent in the Aug. 24 primary against West.

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From Marathon to the Battle of Tours to Gettysburg to the Battle of the Bulge, one often gets a synopsis of military history when Republican congressional hopeful Allen West speaks. Here West, aiming to knock off Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein in November, mentions Leonidas “at that gap in Thermopylae” in the 5th century B.C. offering his legendary “come-and-get-them” challenge to the Persians who demanded the Greeks’ weapons.

Later, West also mentions The Palm Beach Post editorial page’s recent endorsement of his unknown rival in the Aug. 24 Republican primary and (around the 6:15 mark) says, “I have every intention of making The Palm Beach Post pay for endorsing David Brady.”

PostOnPolitics, which is not connected to the editorial page or the paper’s endorsement decisions, asked West to elaborate. West, in an e-mail, explained that “…bottom line about PB Post paying for Brady endorsement, we are going to win. The best revenge is always success.”