One of the most closely watched questions in this year’s New York City mayoral election is who will get the endorsement of outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg, so it was rather interesting when one of Bloomberg’s top advisors, Deputy Mayor for Government Affairs and Communications Howard Wolfson, was spotted in the crowd at a press conference held by Republican candidate Joe Lhota at City Hall today. However, Wolfson, whose offices are inside City Hall, told TPM we shouldn’t see his appearance at the event as an indication Mayor Bloomberg is mulling a Lhota endorsement.
“You should take it as an indication that I needed to go to Starbucks,” Wolfson said.
Bloomberg has enjoyed a good relationship with another one of the mayoral candidates, Democratic City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and has long been widely expected to be giving her his support in the race. However, in January, the New York Times cast doubt on his commitment to Quinn with a report Bloomberg reached out to a slew of high profile figures including Senator Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton and encouraged them to run to succeed him.
