NY-MAYOR

Bloomberg v. Thompson: The Mayoral Contest That Wasn't

Rachel Slajda | November 2, 2009, 3:10PM

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and candidate Bill Thompson

At more than 8 million people, the population of New York City is greater than that of most states. So why aren't we focusing more on tomorrow's mayoral election?

Because this contest simply isn't a contest.

In simply monetary terms, the two-term incumbent, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has already spent more than $85 million of his own money, dwarfing the $6 million expenditures of his opponent, Democrat Bill Thompson. And Bloomberg's record-breaking expenditures may reach $140 million by the time it's all said and done.

But it's more than just money.

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NY-MAYOR

Is Al Gore A Bloomberg Backer Or Just A Fan?

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 5:50PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has bipartisan credentials and has been praised by Republicans and Democrats alike, including President Obama.

Many major national politicians are staying out of Bloomberg's reelection campaign (Obama, for example, backs the Democratic candidate Bill Thompson) but the praise is resurfacing in the final days of the race.

TPM reader DO flagged for us a glossy 8 1/2 x 11" Bloomberg campaign mailer featuring a full-page photo of former Vice President Al Gore, saying it "appears to be a strong endorsement." (It's not.)

"If Gore remains passive about this it will be tantamount to accepting Bloomberg's apparent claim that Gore has endorsed him ... or Gore is playing a political game in which he is endorsing Bloomberg, but is leaving himself a plausible denial that he has endorsed Bloomberg while he tacitly accepts Bloomberg's brochure being send in his name," DO wrote us.

TPMDC checked in with Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider, who affirmed her boss' friendly quotes about Bloomberg over the years.

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