Mayoral candidate not a threat to Obama

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- A perennial Miami Beach, Fla., mayoral candidate drew the attention of the U.S. Secret Service when President Barack Obama was in town for a fundraiser.

A bloodied Raphael Herman showed up at Miami Beach City Hall Monday and called the Secret Service to say he knew where Obama was staying and was going to visit him, The Miami Herald reported Tuesday. Obama was in the Miami area for a fundraiser Monday and stayed overnight.

Miami Beach police said the Secret Service contacted Herman Monday night by fax and asked to speak with him, but details of the conversation were unknown.

Herman, 63, claimed to be an Israeli commando, spoke of knife fights with Osama bin Laden and bragged about a friendship with John F. Kennedy, the Herald said. He is making his sixth run for mayor.

Police said Herman told officers he was accosted Monday by a city firefighter, after which Herman called the Secret Service, saying "he knew where the president was staying and wanted the president to see him with blood on his face."

Police said the Secret Service assessed the situation and "did not believe a credible threat existed," the newspaper reported.