海角大神

With only two weeks until the election, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is behaving as if he doesn鈥檛 have a secure lead over his opponent, Bill Thompson, the Democratic city comptroller 鈥� though polls show him leading by 10 percentage points.

He is attacking Mr. Thompson on television ads, he鈥檚 sending out mass mailings that describe Thompson鈥檚 record in a very negative light, and his supporters 鈥� such as former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani 鈥� are warning New Yorkers crime could surge again unless Mayor Bloomberg is reelected.

鈥淭he bottom line is the Bloomberg campaign is trying to run up the score,鈥� says political commentator Doug Muzzio, a professor at Baruch College in New York. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to just beat him, but they want to beat him by a huge margin.鈥�

Other analysts, however, see another strategy at work. A Sept. 21 poll by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found Bloomberg leading Thompson by 50 percent to 39 percent. Ten percent of the voters were undecided.

鈥淭he undecideds typically go for the challenger,鈥� says Lee Miringoff of the institute. 鈥淚n that kind of scenario, it鈥檚 a lot closer race.鈥�

Mr. Maringoff says the Bloomberg campaign is trying to erect obstacles to prevent the undecided voters from siding with Thompson. For example, he has portrayed Thompson as gambling with New Yorkers鈥� pension money and accepting campaign contributions from people who manage the pensions.

鈥淭he campaign is playing by the laws of the street,鈥� says Mr. Muzzio. 鈥淥nce someone is down, you beat them until they can鈥檛 get back up.鈥�

Bloomberg might need to remain on the offensive because of anger at him running for a third term. Twice, New Yorkers voted to limit ity politicians to two terms. But Bloomberg persuaded the city council to override the vote, freeing him to run for one more term.

鈥淔or people who think it was a terrible thing for Bloomberg to change the rules, there is no way he can win those votes back,鈥� says Miringoff. 鈥淏ut, so far, it鈥檚 not a majority for Thompson.鈥�

Thompson has tried to stoke that frustration. One of his themes is that eight years of Bloomberg is enough. Yet despite having the resources of the Democratic party behind him, Thompson lags Bloomberg, a billionaire and former Republican running as an independent, in spending for the campaign.

Bloomberg in the meantime is rolling out an endorsement or two per day. On Monday, the Patrolmen鈥檚 Benevolent Association (PBA) 鈥� an influential union 鈥� threw its muscle behind Bloomberg.

In the previous two mayoral elections, the PBA had not endorsed Bloomberg. What changed this time?

According to PBA President Patrick Lynch, the difference is the contract negotiated with Bloomberg four years ago.

鈥淲e had a number of issues we agreed on, a number we did not,鈥� said Mr. Lynch. 鈥淎t the time [four years ago] we were without a contract and for our members and our union that is an overriding issue. We were able to resolve that issue and we worked hand in hand.鈥�

That contract gave the police a 4 percent annual wage hike for four years. At the end of the contract in 2010, the top wage for a police officer will be $76,000, according to Albert O鈥橪eary, communications director at the PBA.

鈥淗e bought them off with a big fat contract,鈥� says Muzzio. 鈥淭his is a union that picketed his house.鈥�

At the press conference announcing the endorsement, however, Lynch sought to play down past differences. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 always agree,鈥� he said. But, this time, he said he would press his 50,000 members 鈥� 60 percent of whom live in New York City 鈥� to vote for Bloomberg.

鈥淲e go out and encourage them to vote,鈥� said Lynch. 鈥淚 believe they will.鈥�

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