On Thursday New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed Barack Obama for president, a surprise move for the independent. Bloomberg said he believes global warming contributed to Hurricane Sandy's devastation of his city, and that Obama was the best candidate to confront this issue.
The mayor made the announcement via an op-ed published on Bloomberg View as well as on his own website. He said Obama is the clear choice when it comes to climate change, despite Bloomberg's own disappointment with the president's "engaging in partisan attacks" and focusing on "a divisive populist agenda."
[See a collection of political cartoons on global warming.]
"The two parties' nominees for president offer different visions of where they want to lead America," Bloomberg wrote. "One sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not. I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics."
Bloomberg also lauded the president for Obama's Race to the Top education program and his healthcare law, while criticizing Mitt Romney for changing his positions on immigration, illegal guns, abortion rights, and healthcare.
Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan both found success while their parties were out of power in Congress—and President Obama can, too. If he listens to people on both sides of the aisle, and builds the trust of moderates, he can fulfill the hope he inspired four years ago and lead our country toward a better future for my children and yours. And that's why I will be voting for him.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the 2012 campaign.]
Bloomberg did not endorse a candidate in the 2008 presidential election, but both campaigns this year coveted the endorsement of the New York City mayor. His city lies in a safely Democratic state so his blessing will not have much of an impact on the outcome there, but the campaigns hoped his endorsement could influence Independent voters.
Hurricane Sandy hit one week before Election Day, leaving campaigns and voters speculating as to whether or not the disaster will affect the outcome on November 6. Both Obama and Romney put aside campaigning in the wake of the storm, but while Obama has been subject to praise from the likes of Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for his response efforts, Romney has been left in a somewhat awkward spot: He has had to tread carefully not to be seen as politicizing Hurricane Sandy while not sacrificing potentially critical last-minute campaigning.
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- Read Susan Milligan: Don't Be Suspicious of Chris Christie's Hurricane Sandy Motives
- Read Robert Schlesinger: No, the Elite Media Doesn’t Get To Decide the Election
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