Newsroom

Mayoral long shot gets leg up on race

By PATRICK ARDEN

August 13, 2009

City's largest union can field volunteers for Thompson

The mayor's race briefly looked like an upset yesterday when the largest union of city workers, DC 37, endorsed Comptroller Bill Thompson over its members' boss, Michael Bloomberg. That was a switch from 2005, when DC 37 backed the mayor.

The endorsement gives Thompson, the likely Democratic nominee, not only a needed boost but access to an influential organization that can get out the vote.

"While his opponent might be better financed, Bill Thompson has a weapon that is worth money in the bank," said DC 37 director Lillian Roberts.

Roberts was unapologetic in painting the race as a class war, describing the underdog Thompson as a "champion of hard-working New Yorkers," while unloading on Bloomberg for proposed layoffs in a time of recession. Union board member Robert Ajaye said the mayor was "arrogant" when questioned about assigning city services to private contractors.

Bloomberg implied yesterday the union had a price for support. "I will not make irresponsible promises to win an endorsement," he said. Thompson and the union denied the charge.

A recent poll showed Thompson gaining on the mayor, who still retains a 10-point lead. "The polls also show most people saying it's time for someone else, but you can't beat somebody with nobody," said Hunter College political scientist Ken Sherrill. "This endorsement helps Thompson seem like a credible alternative."