Is Giuliani Endorsement

Too Little Too Late?

By John Toscano

As expected, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani endorsed Michael Bloomberg, the Republican candidate for mayor, in his race against Democrat Mark Green last Saturday, 10 days before the election.

It came very late in the campaign and, by all accounts, was a low-key embrace of the billionaire financial media executive. This combination of circumstances does not bode well for Bloomberg, who needed and was hoping for a ringing endorsement along with some brickbats for Green, no friend of the mayor by any means.

But with time running out and trailing far behind Green in the lastest poll (51 percent to 35 percent), Bloomberg will try to capitalize on the mayor’s backing by touting it in television advertisements right up to the election on November 6.

The tv ads will have to suffice because there seems little likelihood that the mayor will devote much of his time to joining Bloomberg on the campaign trial. He’s still too involved in the World Trade Center tragedy and the recent anthrax out break has him even more occupied with official duties.

As matters now stand, it appears that the mayor’s endorsement will not be enough for Bloomberg to turn the tide against Green. As former Mayor Edward I. Koch observed, "It’s very hard to persuade people 10 days before an election, to suddenly enter and say, ‘follow me, I know best,’" Koch said. "While he’s the only one who could possibly do it, the chances of him being successful are remote."

What Bloomberg would need in this situation is a Giuliani eager to contribute his time to actively campaiging with Bloomberg. At the same time, there would have to be strong grassroots support for Bloomberg—the kind Giuliani had in Forest Hills in his two successful campaigns, for example. The catalyst there was Jeff Weisenfeld, who had built an effective campaign organization and who had the ear of the area’s Jewish leaders.

Bloomberg at this point needs a massive shift in Jewish and other conservative Democratic voters to overtake Green. But Koch has it right: 10 days before an election even a worthy candidate who has weak backing will have tough sledding. A 100-percent dedicated Giuliani might have been able to do it, but not the one who endorsed Bloomberg last Saturday.

GIULIANI BACKS GOV. IN 2002: Although the mayor waited until the last minute to endorse Bloomberg, he endorsed Governor George Pataki for a third term last week, more than a year before the 2002 election. There had been rumors the mayor was considering challenging Pataki for the governorship, despite the congenial working relationship that developed between them after the World Trade Center attack.

GRAY MAD AT CFB: Terrence Gray, Conservative Party candidate for mayor, state Conservative Party Leader Michael Long and state Senator Serphin Maltese, a Republican who once chaired the Conservative Party, all complained bitterly to the city Campaign Finance Board for its omitting Gray and the party’s other two citywide candidates from the Voters’ Guide published by the CFB.

Gray, alluding to a notation in the Voters’ Guide stating "This candidate did not submit a Voters’ Guide statement," responded angrily: "I was never contacted to submit a statement for the Voters Guide. My home address is listed at the Board of Elections on the petition filed on my behalf, so you know where I live. The fact that I did not receive a questionnaire borders on the incomprehensible."

The Little Neck attorney said being left out of the Voters’ Guide "has caused serious harm to my candidacy and, more importantly, to my professional reputations".

Gray is demanding that the Voters Guide be reprinted to include all of the candidates, or a special supplement providing information on him and Public Advocate candidate Joseph Dubowski of Jamaica Estates and comptroller candidate John J. D’Emic of Brooklyn be mailed to all New York City voters. In addition, he wants a profile statement about himself placed on the CFB website.

"All legitimate candidates for mayor deserve equal consideration and exposure when taxpayers are footing the bill," Gray concluded. "Since I have already been left out of the single most important campaign document sent to voters, being added to the website is the least (the CFB) can do."

Gray also demanded to be included in the two debates scheduled between Green and Bloomberg.

In his two most recent campaign releases, Gray called for a $1,500 education tax credit for all city taxpayers, complete mayoral control of the city’s educational system and general reform of the system.

Gray also called for eliminating student and work visas for people who come from countries that support terrorism and cracking down on non-aliens who cheat the system.

MALONEY RENEWS CALL TO REVIVE TOURISM: Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Queens/Manhattan) joined last week with theater and commerce representatives to renew her call for passage of her legislation to help the ailing tourism industry.

Maloney said her Freedom to Travel Act. "will help the economy by supporting our business travelers and giving Americans the incentive to take a vacation at a time when we all deserve one." The lawmaker said her bill, which would be in effect through Dec. 31, 2002, would "allow a 50 percent deduction on travel, lodging and rental car expenses spent anywhere in the country. The maximum deduction would be $1,000 for individuals from $2,000 in receipts and $2,000 for families from $4,000 in receipts."

Additional provisions cover expenses recorded in New York City. Individuals would be allowed a 50 percent deduction up to $500 for hotel, restaurant or entertainment expenses in New York City, while joint filers would be allowed to deduct up to $1,000. The bill would also immediately restore the deduction for business meals and entertainment to 80 percent from 50 percent for those expenses incurred in New York City.

MALTESE ENDORSES FASO FOR STATE COMPTROLLER: State Senator Serphin Maltese, the leader of the Queens Republican Party, has added his name to those endorsing Assembly Minority Leader John Faso for state comptroller in next year’s elections. That brings Faso’s support among the state’s 62 GOP county leaders to 58. Faso is expected to be challenged for the Republican nomination.

City Comptroller Alan Hevesi has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for the state post.