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Jan 17, 2008 8:21 pm US/Eastern
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Bloomberg Delivers 'State Of The City' Address
Major Tax Cut, Security Enforcement, Social Service Expansions Part Of Agenda For NYC
Insists He Is 'Not A Candidate', Despite Obvious Presidential Tone
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
If experts and analysts were looking for hints about whether Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to run for president, they got another one today in the form of a 'state of the city' address.
Bloomberg, who's bipartisan appeal seems to be extending far beyond the state of New York these days, delivered Thursday his "state of the city" address in Flushing. The speech outlined a complex and multi-dimensional plan for the "world's most diverse city," which includes new law enforcement measures, a major tax cut to combat the struggling economy and extensive social services for those in need.
Bloomberg began his address by introducing families from India, Colombia, China, Italy and South Carolina, who have all made the world's "melting pot" their permanent homes. The purpose of his multicultural message was to set the stage for his opening salvo, an attack on the immigration platforms of the 2008 presidential hopefuls.
"To those who are wailing against immigration, to those politicians who have all of a sudden embraced xenophobia, I say open your eyes and take a look behind me, this is what makes America great," said the mayor.
His address sounded presidential from beginning to end, consisting of issues that have been very popular on the national stage. His comments on immigration seemed to strike a chord with liberals and immigrants alike.
"I agree with him. Immigrants are and have always been an essential part of what America is," said Colombian immigrant Juan David Ramon. If anything, his message seemed to be filled with veiled jabs at those hopefuls already on the national stage, not to mention, those who have held office before him.
In what appeared to be a direct shot at his predecessor, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, Bloomberg described the city government he inherited when he took office in 2002 as "insular and provincial and married to the conventional."
Bloomberg, who made it clear several times that the coming year will not be easy, addressed his audience with an optimistic tone of a city "that competes with any place on earth," and "where hope breaks out."
For the billionaire mayor, money matters were at the top of his agenda. Despite the economic doom and gloom, the mayor delivered his plan to continue a $1 billion property tax cut for the second straight year, giving the owners of one-, two- and three-family homes another $400 rebate check this year.
With his liberal stances on issues such as abortion rights, gay marriage and immigration, he could be hoping that continuing the property tax cut will help solidify his appeal with Republican voters.
With two years left in his second term, Bloomberg held firm in his insistence that he is "not a candidate" for president. But many people can't help think all his visionary largesse to the taxpayer, security measures and many social service expansions for New York City could just be a small taste of what pundits are calling "a perfect fit" for a successful independent presidential campaign that draws on policies from both sides of the aisle.
Associates have made public his recent initiation of poll and data collecting on voters as part of a process to gauge his chances as a third party candidate. Supporters launched the 50-state petition drive Tuesday, seeking to "draft" the billionaire, who insiders of the mayor have said he could easily afford to spend $1 billion on a campaign.
He also is traveling more; on Friday he leaves for Texas and California. Aides have said he would run as a centrist, nonpartisan alternative to the major party nominees, on a message of unity.
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(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)