Weiner Waits To Decide On 2009 Mayoral Bid

Now that Rep. Anthony Weiner appears to be rethinking running for mayor this year—"At the beginning of the summer when Congress takes a break, I will look at the lay of the land again and try to determine the best political course"—it's a new 2009 game. A Democratic showdown between Weiner, who narrowly lost the 2005 primary to Fernando Ferrer (Weiner also won points for not insisting on a run-off), and City Comptroller Bill Thompson was expected this summer; the NY Times reports that his "sudden — and very public — ambivalence could significantly reshape the campaign," especially since Weiner was considered threat to Mayor Bloomberg's campaign (Weiner was very vocal in his opposition to the term limits extension). Democratic consultant George Arzt tells the Post he doesn't think Weiner will run, "He's leaving because he'll lose. He doesn't have the money to go up against $80 million," the figure Bloomberg is reportedly bidding on another four years. As for Thompson's and Bloomberg's campaign spokespeople, they took the time to pounce