At a ceremony that was supposed to tout the 50 millionth call to 311, Mayor Bloomberg faced the media, who were eager to embrace the maybe-maybe not presidential candidate. Mayor Bloomberg remained steadfast in his conviction not to run for president, heartily proclaiming, "I've got the greatest job in the world," and that he would stay on as mayor for another 925 days.
But, the NY Times says ahem, reporting Bloomberg aides have working on a possible 2008 bid for the past two years. And the Sun pointed out how he "indulged" questions about national issues at the press conference yesterday. Then again, when asked if there were a situation when he would run, he said, "If everyone in the world was dead and I was the only one alive? Yeah, sure. I mean, come on."
A NY Times editorial says it's a "relief" to see Bloomberg drop the Republican act and that he's taking about big issues other candidates are ignoring, like gun control. And the Daily News' Michael Goodwin notes how Bloomberg's move escalates a grudge match with Rudy Giuliani, which has been brewing for a while. The Post cuts to the chase and demands that Mayor Mike tell New Yorkers what the hell he's doing.
But the best quote is from Douglas Muzzio, Baruch College professor, who told the News how a gun-control/ abortion rights/ gay marraige supporting, evolution-believing, divorced Jew will do: "There's no way Bloomberg gets 270 [electoral votes, needed to win]. So fuhgeddaboudit. Case closed. Goodbye."
Photograph of Mayor Bloomberg by Bebeto Matthews/AP
