The WORD Blog

From a Press Release by Janet Dickerson 22:32:32 EDT 2009:

Tonight Bill Thompson showed why he is the right choice for Mayor. Thompson laid out his vision for the future of New York City while Mike Bloomberg offered little more than negative attacks and stuttering answers.  Mike was uncomfortable onstage and seemed unsure of his own policies.  Once again Bloomberg would not look Thompson in the eye as he launched baseless and inaccurate attacks.

Will have to write something. But for now:

NYT: Bloomberg Is Quick to Attack, Yet Vague on Mission
Published: October 27, 2009

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg ended the debate on Tuesday night sounding very much like the man he was eight years ago, efficient and smart, a guy with reasonable answers for nearly every question, and a knack for the sardonic counterpunch.

Yet, as voters were reminded again, even if he serves another four years, this billionaire mayor could well exit the municipal stage without ever having made that gut connection with New Yorkers that for better or ill defines the best-known mayors.

Mr. Bloomberg has a powerful man’s manner and a technocrat’s way of talking, and he slipped his foe’s punches with practiced ease. But the most obvious questions caused him to double-clutch, such as this one: How do you feel when you are told that you are out of touch with average New Yorkers?

Also NYT:

By DAVID W. CHEN
Published: October 27, 2009

With the ferocity of a bulldog, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Tuesday night ripped into his Democratic opponent, Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., in a final mayoral debate that touched on issues including education, taxes and whether Mr. Bloomberg had misused his fortune to advance his political ambitions.

While many expected Mr. Bloomberg, who leads by double digits in the polls, to play it safe and offer only vague answers, he showed an aggressiveness he seldom displays in public.

Within minutes of the debate’s start, Mr. Bloomberg repeatedly attacked Mr. Thompson’s stewardship of the comptroller’s office. When a panelist asked about Mr. Thompson’s acceptance of more than $500,000 in campaign contributions from people who did business with the city, Mr. Bloomberg pounced and did something he is not particularly known for: he boiled down his argument to a few pungent words.

Tags: 2009 Mayoral Election

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