Apr 10, 2008 8:23 pm US/Eastern
Round 2: Bloomberg Cozies Up To McCain
First Obama And Now McCain; NYC Mayor Making Rounds With Presidential Hopefuls
Will Clinton Get Her Shot At Luring Endorsement?
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced Republican presidential nominee John McCain at a speech in Brooklyn on April 10.
CBS
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Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, US Senator John McCain of Arizona delivers remarks at the US Navy and Marine Corps Memorial Stadium as US flags behind him blow in the wind April 02, 2008 in Annapolis, Md.
Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images
Mayor Michael Bloomberg first shared a breakfast with Barack Obama, and introduced him at a recent speech.
On Thursday, the mayor did the political two-step with another presidential contender.
Bloomberg could be the biggest flirt on the national political stage. How else to explain the latest act in his presidential ballet?
"It is my honor to welcome John McCain back to New York City," he said Thursday at the end of the Arizona senator's introduction.
Bloomberg did the honors for McCain at a small business forum in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The move has set political tongues wagging anew. Will the Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Independent endorse the Arizona senator for president?
"When John was here I remember he was showing me how you press the flesh and walk the streets and say hello to complete strangers," Bloomberg said.
Yes, there is a little bit of political loyalty when it comes to McCain. He endorsed Bloomberg in 2001 when he was a politically untested billionaire businessman launching a long-shot campaign for mayor.
"I got elected because of you so if the people of New York are happy they should say thank you to you I guess," Bloomberg said.
But McCain shouldn't take a Bloomberg endorsement to the bank ... yet. Since he dropped his own presidential bid, Bloomberg has played footsie with Obama, too. He let Obama buy him breakfast last November and introduced him at a recent speech.
"I have to tell you the reason I bought breakfast was I expected payback and someplace more expensive," Obama said at the time.
When he finally got to the podium Thursday McCain called for federal aid for homeowners who can't pay their mortgages.
"Priority No. 1 is to keep well-meaning, deserving homeowners who are facing foreclosure in their homes," McCain said.
So who is Bloomberg going to endorse for president? Sources tell CBS 2 HD he hasn't made his mind up yet. He's still shopping around.
Now the big question in New York political circles is whether Hillary Clinton will get her turn with the mayor.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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