So here's a big surprise (it's a shame you can't read sarcasm) Mayor Bloomberg is said to be running for a third term as New York City's Mayor.
Bloomberg has been playing coy about this for some time, first polling New Yorkers (the majority responded unfavorably to the idea of reversing term limits to allow it), then speaking about a possible presidential run, then acting as if he respects the term limits and will not seek re-election. And now, this: "After months of speculation about his political future, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plans to announce on Thursday morning that he will seek a third term as mayor, according to three people who have been told of his plans." Is anyone really surprised? I, for one, am not.
As a recent story in the Village Voice argued, Bloomberg seems to just like being in the lime-light and a third term bid is right in line with that theory. Is it arrogance? Not really, he's done arguably well as Mayor by mobilizing the business elite for big projects, continued the questionable tactics Giulianni used to force out crime and has an incredibly idealistic (*unrealistic) plan to make New York City into the cleanest, prettyest and bestest city in the world. He will argue, I predict, that another four years is all he needs to realize his fantastic plans and he has the money to make this argument stick in the minds of New Yorkers. The big question lies with the City Council that would pass the law changing the term limits. In the face of the current financial crisis, I wouldn't put it past New Yorkers to hedge their bets on a business leader to get them through the tough challenge. He may win in 2009 but I don't think you'll see as big of support for him as he has enjoyed in the past, and there certainly won't be shouts of "four more years" ringing out across Manhattan.
Note: Rupert Murdoch encouraged a third term, so that's another thing going for Bloomberg next year.
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