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Bloomberg Hearts Bruno, NY GOP, Could Be Factor in 2008

by: phillip anderson

Fri Jul 06, 2007 at 10:33:00 AM EDT

OK, all you "Bloomberg isn't really a Republican" folks, I hope you've read the story in this morning's New York Times about the Mayor's continued love for Joe Bruno and his boys in the State Senate. In it we learn about how Bloomberg continuing to support Bruno and the gang, but also how he is by far the single largest contributor to Senate GOP and a significant contributor to the state GOP committee. How much did he give to Democrats?

Bupkus.

For those interested in the ramifications of such revelations on a potential presidential run should read Jonathan Singer's analysis at MyDD. (Also check out diaries by Randy SF and demahir as well as Bouldin's take over at TDG.) I'm much more interested in what Bloomie's continued support for state Senate Republicans means for the battle to retake that chamber next year. I'll just say that i think his support for the Bruno gang could be significant, decisive even.

First, the details:

On June 19, shortly before Mr. Bloomberg announced that he was leaving the Republican Party, he telephoned the state’s most powerful Republican, Joseph L. Bruno, the Senate majority leader.
The mayor wanted Mr. Bruno to know the announcement was coming. But Mr. Bloomberg, a major contributor to New York Republicans, also sought to reassure the majority leader that despite the change, he would still back Mr. Bruno and his Republican colleagues in the Senate.
“He will support us now, and as we go forward,” Mr. Bruno said, describing the conversation. “His support is his support.”
...
Mr. Bloomberg’s support for Republican candidates is critical; the mayor has been the biggest individual donor to Senate Republicans, according to state campaign finance records, giving $575,000 since October. He also gave the New York State Republican Committee $175,000 in the same period. (During that time, by contrast, he did not donate to any Democrats in the Legislature.)
...
Mr. Bloomberg’s support of Senate Republicans is particularly galling to Democrats because the party regards capturing the Senate, the last statewide base of Republican power in New York, as a top political priority in the 2008 elections. Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, the deputy Democratic leader in the Senate, criticized Mr. Bloomberg as shortsighted. “He’s not using his money wisely,” he said. “We’ve picked up five seats in the last two election cycles even though the mayor continues to be the Republican majority’s major benefactor.”
...
Mr. Bloomberg’s willingness to put his money or name into the battle for the Senate could be decisive, particularly in the heavily Democratic New York City region, where several Republican senators are considered vulnerable. “For the city region, all you have to do is look at Bloomberg’s approval numbers,” said John Googas, Senator Padavan’s chief of staff. “To have somebody that popular strongly endorsing your candidacy is crucial in a contested race.”

More on the flip...

phillip anderson :: Bloomberg Hearts Bruno, NY GOP, Could Be Factor in 2008

It's no secret that Senate Dems are looking to target the GOP in Queens and Long Island. Senators Padavan and Maltese have huge bullseyes on their backs. Those races are going to be fierce as Bruno and the state GOP know that once they lose that majority in the Senate, it's not coming back any time soon.

What concerns me is that if Bloomberg goes all out for them, he could have a significant impact in key races. He's got great approval numbers and the deepest pockets in the state. If he goes "to the mattresses" topreserve Bruno's majority, it could make things a hell of a lot more difficult for those of us who want to take that chamber back.

The very seats now being targeted by Dems are the ones where Bloomberg's support could be most effective.

That is definitely something that needs to be considered when thinking about our plans for 2008.

Tags: Joe Bruno, State Senate, Michael Bloomberg, 2008, New York City, (All Tags)

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Bloomberg Hearts Bruno, NY GOP, Could Be Factor in 2008 | 4 comments

To Play Devil's Advocate (0.00 / 0)

Considering that much of what Mayor Bloomberg wants for New York City requires state legislative approval (including, of course, significant aspects of PlaNYC2030 such as congestion pricing, or educational financing), it is also possible that he's paying attention to the political reality that Joe Bruno can single-handedly squelch anything the mayor wants.

Since the city stands to lose some $500 million in federal funding if the congestion pricing proposal is not approved in some form within the next ten days or so (and seeing as how Shelley Silver is at best lukewarm about it), Bloomberg may feel that he needs to do whatever is necessary now to aid the city's chances of succeeding in Albany.

Announcements of support in July 2007 may well be long-forgotten in Autumn 2008, especially if Bruno, et al., don't come through for the city. And in the grand scheme of things, $750,000 isn't going to be nearly enough to make much of a difference in the State Senate races next year.

DISCLAIMER: I am not saying that I agree with what Bloomberg is doing here, but if his thinking is along the lines I've described, I can at least understand why he's doing it.

by: The Maven @ Fri Jul 06, 2007 at 10:44:38 AM CDT

agree and disagree (4.00 / 1)

surely he's greasing NYC's skids in albany. i get that. and bruno certainly wields immense power up there. it makes sense for bloomberg politically to cultivate allies in albany, though i am struck by the irony of the fact that one of the "three men in a room" represents a district in manhattan and he's not the one being cultivated. i mean, it wasn't bruno that killed the west side stadium...

but i disagree about his potential impact on senate races next year. the state DSCC is targeting races in queens and long island. (i think they should expand that playing field significantly, btw) these are races where bloomberg's involvement will have the most impact. his endorsements, robo calls, TV spots, mailers and everything else supporting marginal GOP incumbents out there could be decisive. and then there's the money. he's already given plenty and he's got both awfully deep pockets and an inclination to spend rather freely when the mood strikes him. and let's not forget that, given our ridiculous campaign finance laws, laws that will never be changed with bruno running the senate, should bloomberg decide to pour tons of cash in to those races, he can pour on as much as he wants.

i think we underestimate the "bloomberg factor" in next year's battle for the state senate at our peril.

TODAY is day one. It always is.

by: phillip anderson @ Fri Jul 06, 2007 at 11:10:26 AM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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I Don't Think We're Really Disagreeing At All (0.00 / 0)

My point about Bloomberg's impact in next year's races was meant to apply only to his financial donations since last fall -- not what he might do over the coming 16 months. I fully concur that any active involvement on his part in the targeted races will make it far more difficult to pry those seats away from the Republican incumbents.

What I was trying to say is that should Bruno and the state GOP not throw their weight behind the items Bloomberg wants to see passed in Albany, Bloomberg's expressions of support may remain as little more than just expressions. He didn't get to where he is today by being a patsy in negotiations, and it wouldn't surprise me if his future support for the state GOP is wholly conditioned on backing the city's proposals to the hilt (which would obviously complicate matters somewhat for them in upstate races). If his support for the party is essentially limited to what he's contributed so far, that's what won't make a big difference in November 2008, in my estimation.

As for Bloomberg not cultivating Silver at this time, I suspect that it is largely a matter of leverage, since Bloomberg cannot presently threaten to withhold that which he does not already give.

And finally, I'd note that Bruno, too, was opposed to the West Side Stadium proposal (which means that he killed it as much as Silver), and that following the Public Authorities Control Board vote on the stadium, Bloomberg conspicuously -- though only temporarily -- stopped his financial backing of Bruno.

by: The Maven @ Fri Jul 06, 2007 at 13:27:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Like I said, Bloomberg's politics suck (0.00 / 0)

But I still will always like his policies for the most part. But I'll bet you $20 that as long as Giuliani isn't the GOP nominee in 08, Bloomie will support the Dems' candidate.

by: Roatti @ Fri Jul 06, 2007 at 14:16:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]