A new Quinnipiac poll shows that Mayor Bloomberg's approval rating has gone down to 66%, from January's 69%. While it's still a good rating, it is still the lowest rating of his second term (he had a 31% rating in 2003!) and Quinnipiac finds 55% of voters find him "cold and businesslike, not warm and friendly," a finding "consistent among blacks, whites and Hispanics, men and women and in all five boroughs." Quinnipiac's polling director Maurice Carroll explains, "New Yorkers don't warm up to Mayor Mike, but they give him high marks for doing his job." As for an election matchup, Bloomberg still beats both City Comptroller Bill Thompson and Rep. Anthony Weiner. Interestingly enough, Weiner, who signals he may not run for Mayor, has more support than Thompson among voters, but the campaigning really hasn't begun. more ›

Politicker NY reports that Mayor Bloomberg's 2009 re-election team has added Jill Hazelbaker, the communications director for Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential bid, as a "move to boost his credibility with Republicans." (The independent Mayor wouldn't mind being on the Republican line in the voting booth.) The Mayor Mike 3X team includes notable Democratic strategists, including Hillary Clinton's longtime communications bulldog Howard Wolfson. Wolfson said of Hazelbacker's hiring, "Jill is one of the most talented communications professionals in the country. We are lucky to have her aboard." Even McCain weighed in, "Jill brings to the table a skill set that is valuable to any campaign and Mayor Bloomberg is fortunate to have her onboard. I wish him and the campaign all the best." more ›

A new NY1 poll shows that most voters aren't that happy with the term limits extension—and almost half of the respondents think less of Mayor Bloomberg as a result! Fifty-seven percent were opposed to the term limits extension (37% were for it), and now 46% think less of Bloomberg, due to his handling of the matter. But 13% think and 35% say Bloomberg's term limits extension angling has no effect on how they view him. NY1's pollster, Baruch College's Mickey Blum, said, referring to how the top issue on respondents' minds is the economy (41%), "[Term limits] has made them think somewhat less of the mayor. On the other hand, it's not the most important issue." Also interesting: 59% think the city's new stadium deals with the Yankees and Mets are terrible (14% approve while 27% didn't have an opinion). A Quinnipiac poll found that Bloomberg's approval rating in 69%, which is pretty high. more ›

Fancy that: After kicking open the doors to a third term bid, Mayor Bloomberg's approval rating has gone up to 69%, from 66% in November, according to a new Quinnipiac poll. Quinnipiac points out this "puts him back on a track of 69 percent or higher approval ratings in every other poll since he began his second term." Interestingly enough, respondents still approved of term limits 69-25% and disapproved of the City Council's decision to extend them 56-42% (they just seem like to Mayor Bloomberg?). more ›

How many billionaires does turn a third party into a contender? At least two, according to the Post, which says that Mayor Michael Bloomberg and upstate businessman Tom Golisano are working to "revamp the state Independence Party as an 'issues oriented' group focusing on government reform." more ›