NYC-WTC_000230732

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Pataki Backs Bloomberg as Campaign Struggles for an Edge By DEAN E. MURPHY by District Council 37, the city’s larg­ ■ -I and MICHAEL COOPER ■

est municipal union, which' previous­ , Gov. George E. Pataki endorsed ly endorsed Peter F. Valone in the ■ Michael R. Bloomberg for mayor Democratic primary and "Fernando yesterday, giving him a lift at a moment when his campaign seems ‘CYYj Ferrer in the runoff. He also ap­ peared with the rest of the citywide to be struggling with how best to Democratic ticket: Betsy^Gotbaum, engage his Democratic opponent, / the nominee for public advocate, and Mark Green. William C. Thompson Jr.,‘the nomi­ PI In an indication of Mr. Bloom­ J nee for city comptroller, a feS berg’s recent difficulties, even the 'Vi “No matter what myt inexperi­ pi news conference announcing the gov­ sr enced competitor wants to say. I'm ernor’s endorsement — by far the going to focus on what’s good for the most significant yet for the Bloom­ berg campaign — had some rough edges. Mr. Bloomberg’s staff abruptly ended the session after Mr. Bloom- / r* working members of District Council 37, for the taxpayers of New York and for all the people of the five boroughs,” Mr. Green saitj. “I’m go­ s PS ing to unite the city no matter what berg became combative: he accused ij rivals or their aides might say.” Mr. Green of playing “the racial .L Mr. Bloomberg was particularly s , card” by questioning his company's 'JG , J irked yesterday by questions that approach toward South Africa, and Mr. Green’s staff rais^ the day be­ then he went on to describe himself > Jj fore about his big communications , as a liberal moments after criticiz­ company’s business with ^South Af­ ing Mr. Green for being the same. a rica, Mr. Bloomberg is the founder “I am a liberal, yes, I think in and majority owner of Bloomberg many senses I am a liberal.” Mr, Andrea MohinfThc Niw York Times Bloomberg said- “But I am not anti- Michael R. Bloomberg and Gov. George E, Pataki in Chelsea yesterday. busmess and I am not antipolice, and--------------------------------- :________ = -------- L.P., which according to Mr. Bloom­ berg’s autobiography, “Bloomberg by Bloomberg,” began doing busi­ § I don't have a record of saying any of these things." berg,” Mr. Pataki said when asked Mr. Pataki has long supported Mr. ness in South Africa during the presi­ Throughout it all, Mr. Pataki stood about Mr. Green, “I am here not to Bloomberg’s candidacy, but had not dency of F.W. de Klerk,'the coun­ at Mr. Bloomberg’s side. Then, in an talk about other potential political campaigned with him or formally try’s last white president. 1 O awkward lapse of protocol, Mr. figures.” endorsed him until yesterday. Mr. Mr. Green’s campaign jhad criti­ © H Bloomberg was ushered off to his car The high-profile endorsement was Giuliani has also praised Mr. Bloom­ cized Mr. Bloomberg for nbt waiting H while Mr. Pataki lingered and an- especially important for Mr. Bloom- berg in the past, but said yesterday until the election of Nelson Mandela,

n swered a question or two about his berg. With less than two weeks until that he had not had time to focus on the country’s first black president, to

s trip later in the day to Washington, the election, he has gained on Mr. an endorsement in the aftermath of enter the South African market. Yes­ When it became clear that the gover- Green in opinion polls but still te­ the World Trade Center attack and terday. Mr. Bloomberg contradicted nor had remained behind, Mr. mains significantly behind. A poll the anthrax scares. the account in his book. Saying his S Bloomberg was captured on televi- released yesterday by Quinnipiac Mr. Green played down the impor­ company did not begin doing busi­ LN3 o Sion cameras doing an about-face University showed Mr. Green lead- tance of the Pataki endorsement and ness until after the inauguration of U and hurrying to rejoin him. ing Mr. Bloomberg among likely vot- refused to be drawn into an exchange Mr. Mandela in May 1994.U spokes­ o In making his endorsement, Mr. ers by 51 percent to 35 percent, with over some of the day’s comments woman for Bloomberg L.P., Chris t© o Pataki called Mr. Bloomberg a a margin of sampling error of plus or about him. Mr. Bloomberg not only Taylor, said the first South African o I o strong leader with vast business ex- minus 4 percentage points. perience who as mayor would contin- accused Mr. Green of playing the William Cunningham, a senior ad- race card, but also characterized order for a Bloomberg computer ter­ minal was placed on May 24, 1994. o J—i

ue the work of Mayor Rudolph W. viser to Mr. Bloomberg, questioned him as antibusiness because of a She said she could not explain the Giuliani. But perhaps equally note- the methodology oF the Quinnipiac campaign he led as consumer affairs reference in the book. ’ co worthy, the governor did not criticize survey and suggested Mr. Green’s commissioner to raise city revenues "We waited until Mandela was in co Mr. Green when given the opportuni- lead was more likely 12 percent. An- by aggressively enforcing regula­ office,” Mr. Bloomberg said. "And ty to do so during the news confer- other campaign official said Mr. tions on small businesses. this is just a typical racial card. You o lence at Chelsea Waterside Park. Bloomberg’s internal polling put Mr. Mr. Green spoke with reporters in saw it played before, and here it “I am here to support Mike Bloom- Green’s margin around 10 percent. Union Square after being endorsed comes out again.”

NYC-WTC_000230732