Bloomberg Subtly Courts Old GOP Allies
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Former Republican and current Independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg is reaching out to old political allies as his re-election campaign gears up. NY1’s Grace Rauh filed the following report.It's been a year-and-a-half since Mayor Michael Bloomberg left the Republican Party, jumping ship while contemplating a run for president as a third-party candidate. But now that he wants another four years at City Hall, he is talking privately to local Republicans, considering a run on the GOP ticket.
But Bloomberg was not willing to explain his plans in public, dodging questions at a press conference Friday on Christmas tree recycling.
“I didn't want to become a Republican again or a Democrat or an Independent or whatever. I am focusing on chipping today and MulchFest and no matter how much you want to chip away at that argument you are not going to be successful,” said the mayor.
In order for Bloomberg to run on the Republican line, he will have to reach out to party leaders in the outer boroughs.
They say he will need to work hard to win over members, some of whom are still smarting from his abandonment of the GOP. To appear on the ballot as a Republican, Bloomberg will need backing from at least three of the five county leaders, and their support is far from automatic.
“You're almost like the forgotten sister, you know what I mean?” said Queens Republican Chairman Phil Ragusa. “All of the sudden, 'Oh gee, there's that sister out in Queens, maybe she'll help us.'”
Craig Eaton, the chairman of the Brooklyn Republican Party, says his members are split over the mayor. One camp loves him, another is on the fence and diehard party members are not necessarily interested in welcoming him back.
“I think it's fair to say it wouldn't be a walk in the park because he left the party. So I think he'd need to come and talk to us,” said Eaton.
There's also the question of John Catsimatidis, the wealthy Democrat-turned-Republican who is exploring a run for mayor and has not abandoned the idea yet.
Political observers say that despite grumbling within the party, they expect the mayor to get his way. He may no longer be a Republican, but he can open up his wallet to help the party -- a move he has used in the past.