Why did Bloomberg change from a Democrat to a Republican

[question everything]

when he ran for NYC mayor? I thought that New York City is a liberal one?

[BurtWorm]

1. Supposedly because Mark Green was leading among the Dems

and he liked his odds better as a Reptilian.

[MNDemNY]

2. Political opportunism, just like the

reason for this latest "shift" He's a whore. He and Sen.Coleman (R)MN should get along well.

[Crazy Dave]

3. Except for seeing and hearing about the guy in the news

Maybe he's one of those politicians who even though they have a party affiliation, they do take an oath to do the will of all the people they're sworn to serve. People and politicians alike forget that even though you don't agree with the other side, the other side still has rights and it's your duty as an elected official to make sure all sides are heard and if possible, accommodated.
Again, I don't live there so I'm not sure how good a job he does.

[deadmessengers]

4. Parts of it are, but not all

I often point out that Manhattan is as liberal as it gets, but only one New Yorker in 5 lives (or can afford to live) there. The 4 other boroughs are not so monolithically liberal, and Staten Island tends to be solidly right-wing. New York has had a mayor elected on the Republican party ticket for 6 out of the last 7 terms. Bloomberg was elected twice, Giuliani twice, and Ed Koch had the endorsement of the city Republican Party on his last 2 (of 3) terms.

[question everything]

9. Interesting, thank you

I suppose this extends to the state as a whole, as it is with California and Illinois where the big cities are heavily Democrats and provide enough of a tilt to counter the more rural Republicans.

[soothsayer]

5. Too large a field of dems in the primaries

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Mark Green was the City Council President and a favorite to win

both the democratic primary for mayor and the general election. As a democratic challenger to Green, Bloomberg could not win as the numbers weren't there.

By converting to republican, he had the race tied up as there was no viable republican to follow in Rudy Giuliani's shoes. Plus, who knew about 9-11? Sentimentality and wanting to show support for "America's Mayor" garnered more votes for Bloomberg as RG's successor, and thus he was rewarded for being in the right party at the right time.

[natrat]

7. maybe he is a scumbag like clinton obama bush and the rest

but he has a point about running things devoid political parties as witnessed in New York

[Bitwit1234]

8. The dem spot was filled AND

he wanted to run for republican...and you know republicans they'll take anything.

rudi, romney, mccain, brownback and deputy dawg thompson.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Because Dems were dumb enough to nominate Green for Mayor.

Green's lost all kinds of elections.