Weiner 'In the Driver's Seat' for 2009
In the paper this week, I've got a short write-up of an explicitly mayoral mailing Anthony Weiner sent to donors that says he's "in the driver's seat" for the 2009 race.
In the mailing, Weiner writes, "Many of the issues that made me want to run for Mayor are still left to be resolved."
The piece goes out shortly before the April 2 forum about middle class economic issues hosted by the Drum Major Institute, which is expected to feature Weiner and at least two other possible candidates.
More on the mailing here.
-- Azi Paybarah
The other mayoral candidates should be paying close attention because Weiner is going to be a handful in 2009.
That's what concerns me about Weiner. Given the crowd he panders to, he won't be good for pedestrians and transit.
Is this the same Weiner that told that unions that he was against the westside stadium and he was sure the Jets would build a new home in Queens?
He beat Fields and some other Jerk so that makes him a frontrunner for Mayor?
What are you trying to say, anonymous?
10:52 dislikes Weiner. Fine, but the man nearly forced a runoff last time, he's maintained his public profile since then, as a member of the House majority he's well positioned to raise money,and he's pretty good in front of the cameras. Maybe he's noe a frontrunner, but he will be a force in the 2009 race, no doubt.
"Many of the issues that made me want to run for Mayor are still left to be resolved." Chief among them: I didn't get elected Mayor.
Lets be frank: everyone knew that Bloomberg was going to win in 2005;Weiner just made it entertaining. In 2009, however, any white opponent who runs against Thompson and Carrion will risk turning the Democratic primary into a bad racial food fight; where the resentments would linger for years. Why would someone risk their safe majority congressional seat to do that? His Sith Lord Schumer wouldnt want that to happen, would he?
...which creates a perfect opportunity for the right Republican candidate...
Carrion? Like a bad rerun of ferrer.
If I remember correctly, Weiner DID force a run-off but stepped aside for the consensus candidate (who happened to be a minority): he didn't try to pick up the Gifford voters and force the issue. If Thompson wins fair and square - rock and roll; but why would Weiner step aside again? Except maybe that Thompson isn't the hack that Ferrer was.
In a diverse city, no racial or ethnic group has a clear shot at the Mayoralty. Weiner's chances are as good as anyone else's, probably better because he hasn't been divisive.
Nassau, he wouldn't be risking his seat. He's up again for Congress in 08 and the Mayor race is 09.
Memory serves your retarded ass. Weiner didn't step aside; Ferrer got over 40. Certainly, Weiner could have wasted everyone's time demanding a recount, but then he'd have been a pariah in the party. So, yes he stepped aside, in the sense that he acknowledged the obvious.
That having been said, he definitely surged with a message that resonated. He's clearly more passionate than either Thompson or Carrion, and I don't think anyone takes Quinn seriously (except perhaps for Mayors Vallone and Miller)... so Weiner's definitely the one to watch.
Weiner has accomplished nothing. He is identified with no issue except following in his ex-boss footsteps and ambition beyond his abilities.
Can anyone point to one thing he has done for New York.
Weiner was running in a field of rejects. When the public get a good look of him he will go down like Miller.