My ex-wife tells similar stories.
She lived and worked in NYC from about 1985 to 1993.
Having seen what Rudy did in NYC - she (a total democrat) has said she would vote for Rudy "in a NY minute".
One of the women at tea used to live in Montclair, NJ and she said that lots of democrats she knows personally adore Rudy and will be voting for him.
Montclair is a bedroom community to Manhattan so she knows the demographics in that area (largely Democrat) quite well.