Running for president was always an unlikely next step for Mayor Bloomberg. Running for governor is likely, and becoming more so.
Mr. Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer don't get along very well. They understand their mutual need to accomplish individual goals while in office, but as individuals they don't have much in common beyond liking a coffee shop situated near their Upper East Side residences.
Don't expect to hear much talk from the Bloomberg camp about running for governor. The nonstop talk about running for president was a requirement to make Mr. Bloomberg a viable candidate. The concept of Mr. Bloomberg entering the presidential race seemed absurd when the rumors first began two years ago. A coordinated pre-campaign was required to make plausible a campaign that now is not happening. Convincing voters and opinion makers that Mr. Bloomberg is a reasonable gubernatorial candidate with a reasonable chance of winning isn't an issue. Polls at this early date — nearly three years before the election — even show Mr. Bloomberg ahead of Mr. Spitzer. So in terms of running for governor, talk would only hurt Mr. Bloomberg's chances, as it could cause trouble with the current governor.
The mayor does not want any trouble with the governor, and vice versa. From Mr. Bloomberg's perspective, Albany has a say in almost every big idea any mayor wants to pursue. From Mr. Spitzer's perspective, last summer's Troopergate troubles make it imperative to avoid any new high-profile enemies.
Political necessity has kept the tensions between the mayor and the governor largely under the radar, allowing them to develop a very productive working relationship. Mr. Bloomberg lent Mr. Spitzer some much-needed political capital by appearing with the governor during some of the most difficult weeks last summer. Mr. Spitzer spoke glowingly of Mr. Bloomberg during the State of the State address in January.
On the policy front, Mr. Spitzer is offering unwavering support for Mr. Bloomberg's most immediate priority: congestion pricing. Mr. Spitzer is putting heavy pressure on fellow Democrats in the Legislature to approve a congestion pricing plan, perhaps as part of a deal for a pay raise. Lawmakers realize the oddity that their best hope for their first pay raise since 1999 could hinge on making Mr. Spitzer happy so he can make Mr. Bloomberg happy.
Messrs. Bloomberg and Spitzer have shown a knack for helping each other out, but the tension between them does bubble when they don't agree on policy matters. When Mr. Bloomberg criticized Mr. Spitzer's now aborted plan to offer drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants, Mr. Spitzer declared: "He is wrong at every level: Dead wrong, factually wrong, legally wrong, morally wrong, ethically wrong."
Running for president was always an unlikely next step for Mayor Bloomberg. Running for governor is likely, and becoming more so.
Mr. Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer don't get along very well. They understand their mutual need to accomplish individual goals while in office, but as individuals they don't have much in common beyond liking a coffee shop situated near their Upper East Side residences.
Don't expect to hear much talk from the Bloomberg camp about running for governor. The nonstop talk about running for president was a requirement to make Mr. Bloomberg a viable candidate. The concept of Mr. Bloomberg entering the presidential race seemed absurd when the rumors first began two years ago. A coordinated pre-campaign was required to make plausible a campaign that now is not happening. Convincing voters and opinion makers that Mr. Bloomberg is a reasonable gubernatorial candidate with a reasonable chance of winning isn't an issue. Polls at this early date — nearly three years before the election — even show Mr. Bloomberg ahead of Mr. Spitzer. So in terms of running for governor, talk would only hurt Mr. Bloomberg's chances, as it could cause trouble with the current governor.
The mayor does not want any trouble with the governor, and vice versa. From Mr. Bloomberg's perspective, Albany has a say in almost every big idea any mayor wants to pursue. From Mr. Spitzer's perspective, last summer's Troopergate troubles make it imperative to avoid any new high-profile enemies.
Political necessity has kept the tensions between the mayor and the governor largely under the radar, allowing them to develop a very productive working relationship. Mr. Bloomberg lent Mr. Spitzer some much-needed political capital by appearing with the governor during some of the most difficult weeks last summer. Mr. Spitzer spoke glowingly of Mr. Bloomberg during the State of the State address in January.
On the policy front, Mr. Spitzer is offering unwavering support for Mr. Bloomberg's most immediate priority: congestion pricing. Mr. Spitzer is putting heavy pressure on fellow Democrats in the Legislature to approve a congestion pricing plan, perhaps as part of a deal for a pay raise. Lawmakers realize the oddity that their best hope for their first pay raise since 1999 could hinge on making Mr. Spitzer happy so he can make Mr. Bloomberg happy.
Messrs. Bloomberg and Spitzer have shown a knack for helping each other out, but the tension between them does bubble when they don't agree on policy matters. When Mr. Bloomberg criticized Mr. Spitzer's now aborted plan to offer drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants, Mr. Spitzer declared: "He is wrong at every level: Dead wrong, factually wrong, legally wrong, morally wrong, ethically wrong."
