“Smith is one of the Democrats caucusing with the Senate Republicans.”
I wouldn’t say that exactly. More like he does what he thinks is best for him (then again, that can describe about 99% of politicians). He believes he gets more out of caucusing with the GOP & Dem majority coalition. It’s an unusual situation in NY, anyhow, as the Dems have proven that they couldn’t run the Senate during the time they had it, so a few of them believe it’s better with the GOP in nominal or de facto control. Washington State has a similar situation at present.
What I’m trying to figure out is whether Halloran was attempting to outright deliver the GOP nomination for NYC Mayor to Smith, something that is ludicrous on its face (given that there are other serious GOP candidates already in the race). Although Smith might’ve surmised he’d have an easier time getting the GOP nod than going through the Democrat primary circus (and the last time that nomination was worth anything was in 1989 when David Dinkins, then Manhattan Borough President, knocked off Ed Koch).
Not to say Smith, once elected, would switch back to the Democrats (since it’s unlikely they’d forgive him for doing so, and he wouldn’t survive renomination), he’d just merely play it like Bloomberg. Of course, all this chicanery being blown up publicly will likely end any viable chance he has.