Posted on 10/06/2021 8:28:17 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Whether Democrats or Republicans, there's one political question that most Americans can agree on: Mayor Bill de Blasio is leaving NYC in much worse shape than he found it eight years ago.
Yet, despite facing near-universal criticism, and polling at under 1% nationally during his presidential campaign (which became the butt of endless jokes), political reporters in New York State are sounding the alarm Wednesday morning that the mayor best known for surging crime rates and economic inequality (and eating his pizza with a fork and knife) is exploring a run for governor of the Empire State.
Earlier this morning, the NYT's Katie Glueck reported on Twitter that she had spoken with at least three people close to the mayor who say he's been holding talks about a potential gubernatorial run, while sounding out some former aides about their potential interest in joining his campaign.
News: Bill de Blasio has begun to tell people that he plans to run for governor of New York, per 3 people w/direct knowledge of convos. He has also sounded out trusted former aides about their interest in a potential campaign.
W/ @danarubinstein https://t.co/laaROU4LYm— Katie Glueck (@katieglueck) October 6, 2021
Shortly after breaking the news, Glueck shared some amusing comments about de Blasio's prospects, shared by fellow Dems who clearly weren't concerned about protecting their identities. "Osama bin Laden is probably more popular in Suffolk County than Bill de Blasio," said said Rich Schaffer, the chairman of the county’s Democratic committee, who has already endorsed sitting governor Kathy Hochul (the state's first female governor) in her bid for a full term.
turns out some NY Dems have some thoughts on this.
“Osama bin Laden is probably more popular in Suffolk County than Bill de Blasio,” said the chairman of the county’s Democratic committee.https://t.co/laaROUmnmW — Katie Glueck (@katieglueck) October 6, 2021
As the NYT reminds us, there was one memorable moment during the race for the Democratic Primary for mayor where the candidates were asked during a debate whether they would accept de Blasio's endorsement. Only Andrew Yang raised his hand (though there was some speculation that de Blasio was 'secretly backing' Eric Adams, the primary's winner, who will very likely be elected to succeed de Blasio at Gracie Mansion).
He's also already facing significant competition, and not just from Hochul: New York AG Letitia James, who burnished her rep by leading the investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's sexual transgressions, is believed to be running. So is Jumaane Williams, a progressive Brooklyn Democrat and the city's current public advocate (a job that once belonged to de Blasio), who is popular with NYC's professional-class progressives. Should James win the governorship, she would be the first black woman elected governor in any state in the country.
What does de Blasio have to say about that? Per the NYT:
Asked whether New York should have another white male governor - Ms. Hochul is the first woman to lead the state; Ms. James and Mr. Williams are Black, and Ms. James could be the first Black woman to govern any state in the country - Mr. de Blasio appeared to brush aside the question last week.
"We need people of all backgrounds to be involved in government," he said.
We're starting to suspect that even de Blasio doesn't support a de Blasio candidacy. But as another NY political reporter pointed out, de Blasio doesn't need to win the governorship to benefit from his campaign. The game is a popular one in the US: run to build up a war chest, then use that war chest not to campaign, but to influence other politicians (because that money can then be given away).
Like now ex-Democrat Andrew Yang, de Blasio doesn’t have to win to gain much. He can raise a campaign chest and then use that to leverage influence. More or less what the Manhattan DA investigated him for when de Blasio brokered pass-through contributions via county committees. — Alyssa Katz (@alykatzz) October 6, 2021
But we thought Democrats were supposed to be the 'principled' ones?
Most New Yorkers would vote for bin Laden as long as he ran as a Democrat
Well, his Dis-Honor did try to run for POTUS.
Bill de Blasio and his very pathetic ugly lady have wasted billions on crap and have nothing to show for it,
so why not make him your governor?
Make him in charge of more of your money for him and his little princes to waste or put in their little accounts.
Not to worry, New York would elect Satan himself.
Considering NY went from bad to worse with cuomo to Hochul, I could see them electing deblasio.
Because they have a tendency to always outdo themselves at electing bad politicians.
Just when you think they’ve hit rock bottom, along comes a democrat even worse than the last one.
More proof that Wilhelm is a batshit crazy commie.
No NYC Mayor race is run in a vacuum. When Bill ran and won in 2014, his ‘D’ competitors ranged from crazier to Anthony Weiner. Without 20-20 foresight, it is hard to find the best of the bad in such elections. Remember the maxim, “In a democracy, the people get what they deserve!”
Who will the NYC proletariat vote for this time? Lots of luck with that!
NYC has RCV now.
And NYS has RCV-enabled voting machines.
Until NYS goes back to dumb voting machines and NYC repeals RCV, NYS is screwed.
Deep State can install whoever it wants.
Including Kaiser Wilhelm.
Yes. If they could elect/select Biden they can do it for anyone.
He’s a shoo in because they will steal it
This is what I keep telling people who think the nation is so divided...
If that is so, why does Deep State have to steal elections in the blue bits and disenfranchise minority voters and women?
If NYC is so ineducable, why was RCV shoved down its throat?
Our fellow citizens are not the enemy.
Unless they side with Deep State.
And if enough of them sided with Deep State, Deep State wouldn’t have to steal elections.
No, most communists here would still vote for him as dicta... I meant governor.
Of course they would vote for Osama bin Laden. But there are a few conservative NYers
RE: NYC Mayor race is run in a vacuum. When Bill ran and won in 2014, his ‘D’ competitors ranged from crazier to Anthony Weiner
So why not go with the Republican candidate instead?
Joe Lohta, who actually had administrative experience running the MTA while working with Mayor Bloomberg would have been a much better Mayor.
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