At Bloomberg-Less Republican Dinner, Giuliani Jokes, Gingrich Misses Mike

Michael Bloomberg, who has been lobbying local Republican officials to allow him to run for re-election on the party line, did not attend the New York State Republican Party's annual fund-raising dinner last night in Manhattan.

The event at the Sheraton Hotel in midtown was attended by Republicans from across the state and featured former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, plus former mayor (and former presidential candidate) Rudy Giuliani and former governor George Pataki—both of whom were touted as possible statewide candidates next year.

Bloomberg’s top Republican campaign aide, Matt Mahoney, was in attendance. He told me Bloomberg did not attend because he had other events to go to. He did not specify.

But Bloomberg wasn’t far from some minds.

Giuliani began his speech with a joke that referenced Bloomberg.

“I was the first Republican mayor in a generation but I had a bigger distinction than that,” Giuliani said.

“I’m the first one to remain a Republican in about 60 years,” he said, referring to Bloomberg, who left the party in 2007, and former mayor John Lindsay, who left the party in 1971.

The joke was greeted with applause and cheers from the crowd.

Later that night, as Gingrich was leaving the event, I asked him what he thought about Bloomberg’s absence.

“It’s his choice,” Gingrich said.

Was he disappointed?

“Sure. Of course. I always love to have the mayor come,” said Gingrich.