De Blasio Supporters Unhappy with Gioia Campaign's Opportunism

At a press conference urging that Bill de Blasio be reinstated on the ballot, despite underreporting the number of petitions he submitted to the city Board of Elections, his supporters blasted one of his opponents for trying to poach union support.

De Blasio, speaking to reporters at a press conference across the street from City Hall this morning, said he was “surprised” to hear that unions supporting his campaign received inquiries from Gioia trying to capitalize on his removal from the ballot.

“I wouldn’t want to be on a cliff hanging on a stick and relying on Eric Gioia to pull me up,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

Representative Ed Towns said he would rather highlight the fact that de Blasio’s two other Democratic opponents, Mark Green and Norman Siegel, immediately called for him to be reinstated.

Also at today’s event were City Council members Letitia James of Brooklyn and Rosie Mendez of Manhattan.

De Blasio said that Henry Berger, the election lawyer who made the mistake that led to his removal from the ballot, is still working on the campaign.

De Blasio said his situation is not unique, and that “there’s many insurgent candidates who are good people, who are standing up for the right ideas, who cannot afford the best lawyers, who cannot sustain a court process.”