Though the mayoral election will not be won until 2013, tracking the race throughout 2011 has shown changing political tides. The only official candidate is Manhattan Media LLC CEO Tom Allon, though it is clear who the potential candidates are.
In an April Marist poll, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) had the most voter support, with 18 percent of Democrats picking him to succeed Bloomberg. A texting scandal in June, however, heralded the end of his race, and his congressional seat became a gauge for the national political climate.
The seat in Weiner’s highly Democrat 19th District was won by Republican, Bob Turner—the first time ever the seat has gone to a Republican.
City Comptroller John Liu has held about 10 percent of voter support in the city throughout the year, though his job approval rating has plummeted since it became public that his political campaigns have been under FBI investigation for fraud since 2009.
Voters say almost 2:1 that he would not do a good job as mayor.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly holds the most support, though he has indicated he does not intend to run. Without Kelly in the race, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn currently edges out other candidates. But, the shifting tides of 2012 could markedly change the lineup and ratings.
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