NYT: Dem Leaders Worry Over NYC Mayoral Race (Moveon, Kos mentioned)

[DeepModem Mom]

Democratic Leaders Worry Over Mayoral Race
By PATRICK D. HEALY and JIM RUTENBERG

Published: April 12, 2005


As a Republican mayor of a Democratic city whom polls show to be unpopular with many city voters, Michael R. Bloomberg should seem like an easy mark to Democrats.

But party leaders are expressing growing alarm, saying that the four major Democratic candidates vying to run against Mr. Bloomberg in the fall are failing to make compelling cases against the mayor with sharp political messages that will resonate with voters....

***

Democrats had expressed hope that because the New York mayoral contest is one of the only competitive high-profile races in the nation this year - against the man who was host to the Republican National Convention, no less - the national party apparatus would swing into action to bolster the local wing here.

But so far the race has failed to energize the Democratic shock troops. Liberal activist groups like Moveon.org have not become involved. And on liberal Web blogs, such as DailyKos.com, when the New York mayoral race comes up in the debate, it is often about where Mr. Bloomberg stands on the ideological spectrum and includes laments about the Democratic field....

***

One Democratic strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he has relationships with all of the candidates, said he feared that the party was reverting to its worst instincts by splintering into factions based on race and ethnicity....(Another) key challenge the mayor poses to the Democrats: As a Democrat himself until the 2001 race, Mr. Bloomberg is viewed by many Democrats as a Republican in name only....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/nyregion/metrocampaigns/12dems.html

[Dhalgren]

1. Here's where the DLC should step in.

They don't need no stinkin' "shock troops" they got corporate backing. Let's see how they do in a major race with no "grassroots lefty losers" getting in the way...

[KurtNYC]

2. Jim Rutenberg loves to write about wedge issues

This seems like another. He spends much of the article rehashing Ferrer's problems and all but ignore Gifford Miller. Who would at least give Bloomberg a challenge.

IMHO, Bloomberg is going to destroy whoever runs against him. The best we can do in this election is to make Bloomberg promise something we want. The more the RW wants elections to be empty personality contests, the more I want them to be about issues.

Anthony Weiner has raised some great issues. I hope he continues.
http://www.anthonyweiner.com/content/onrecord.asp

[Renew Deal]

3. Who is going to do a better job than Bloomberg?

I am not saying that he's doing a good job. My point is that who is going to do better. The current feild sucks outside of Anthony Weiner. Ferrer is a has been. Miller doesn't have the experience, but he has some cash. Most of the city has no idea who Virginia Fields is. Anthony Weiner is interesting, but I don't think he has much executive experience.

[ClarkUSA]

4. Huh? Bloomberg had no "executive experience" AT ALL...and it shows

Anybody but a Republican who sucked Bush's arse at the Convention, thank you.

[Renew Deal]

5. Bloomberg ran a company

That's executive experience.

[0rganism]

6. two words: Bill Clinton

I think it's about time the Big Dog got back into local politics.