NYT, page one: For Bloomberg and the G.O.P., Pre-Party Jitters

[DeepModem Mom]

For Bloomberg and the G.O.P., Pre-Party Jitters
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER

Published: March 5, 2004


On paper, the Republican National Convention should be the four most fabulous days in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's political career. He will be presiding over the largest gathering of fellow Republicans ever in New York, with the nation's eyes turned on his city and, presumably, the mayor himself.

But Mr. Bloomberg — a lifelong Democrat who became a Republican to run for office — finds himself in an uncomfortable political position, one that promises to get tougher as the convention nears. New York Democrats, who outnumber Republicans by a ratio of five to one, are complaining that their mayor is doing the bidding of the White House. At the same time, Republicans close to the White House say they view Mr. Bloomberg's Democratic background with suspicion and have clashed with his aides over logistical and financial details of the convention....

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"The mayor is starting to get the reality of how much people hate Bush in this city," said Sarah S. Kovner, a Manhattan Democrat who served in the Clinton administration. "People who have been strong supporters of him are not going to take too kindly to his support of the president. I think they will be sorry they asked for this convention."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/05/nyregion/05BLOO.html?pagewanted=1

[La_Serpiente]

1. quote

"The mayor's role here is not to capture the center stage during the convention," said Mr. Skyler, his spokesman. "His job is to make sure the city is a good host. You're talking about filling hotels and Broadway shows at a traditionally slow time of the year. It's not about helping the mayor, it's about what is good for this city."

Maybe Tony Kushner will open some of his political plays on Broadway at the time :-)