New York Primary Results
Weiner Concedes to Avoid Runoff.
Representative Anthony D. Weiner conceded the 2005 Democratic mayoral nomination yesterday to Fernando Ferrer, the top vote-getter in the race, in hopes of averting a potentially destructive runoff election and strengthening Mr. Ferrer's hand as he begins the final eight-week campaign against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Mr. Weiner's decision, made after a long night of strategizing with aides and his mentor, Senator Charles E. Schumer, came as a surprise to New York Democrats, not least Mr. Ferrer, who was said to be ecstatic. Mr. Ferrer lost a bruising mayoral runoff to Mark Green in 2001, and faced an uncertain bout against the scrappy Mr. Weiner; yesterday, he embraced a nomination that had eluded him in two previous runs for mayor.
There's some confusing talk from city officials, saying they're required under state law to hold a runoff election, but hopefully that can be averted:
Mr. Weiner said he would not participate in a runoff even if one were held, calling it "a waste," and Mr. Ferrer's camp said they hoped to have the problem solved quickly so he could turn his sights on Mr. Bloomberg, beginning with a unity rally with Mr. Weiner and dozens of other Democrats on the steps of City Hall this afternoon.
"I am proud to support Freddy Ferrer," Mr. Weiner said at a news conference in front of his childhood home in Brooklyn. "He has the record, he has the brains, he has the commitment, he has the understanding to not only run circles around Republican Mike Bloomberg, but to lift up our city."
Awww, look at all this nice unity.
I know a couple people in my post yesterday were not too thrilled about Mr. Ferrer, but I like him well enough. However, the real exciting thing for me? The prospect of having both of America's biggest cities represented by Latino Democrats. (The other being Mayor Villaraigosa in Los Angeles, of course.) I need to learn to aprenda el español, dammit.
Representative Anthony D. Weiner conceded the 2005 Democratic mayoral nomination yesterday to Fernando Ferrer, the top vote-getter in the race, in hopes of averting a potentially destructive runoff election and strengthening Mr. Ferrer's hand as he begins the final eight-week campaign against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Mr. Weiner's decision, made after a long night of strategizing with aides and his mentor, Senator Charles E. Schumer, came as a surprise to New York Democrats, not least Mr. Ferrer, who was said to be ecstatic. Mr. Ferrer lost a bruising mayoral runoff to Mark Green in 2001, and faced an uncertain bout against the scrappy Mr. Weiner; yesterday, he embraced a nomination that had eluded him in two previous runs for mayor.
There's some confusing talk from city officials, saying they're required under state law to hold a runoff election, but hopefully that can be averted:
Mr. Weiner said he would not participate in a runoff even if one were held, calling it "a waste," and Mr. Ferrer's camp said they hoped to have the problem solved quickly so he could turn his sights on Mr. Bloomberg, beginning with a unity rally with Mr. Weiner and dozens of other Democrats on the steps of City Hall this afternoon.
"I am proud to support Freddy Ferrer," Mr. Weiner said at a news conference in front of his childhood home in Brooklyn. "He has the record, he has the brains, he has the commitment, he has the understanding to not only run circles around Republican Mike Bloomberg, but to lift up our city."
Awww, look at all this nice unity.
I know a couple people in my post yesterday were not too thrilled about Mr. Ferrer, but I like him well enough. However, the real exciting thing for me? The prospect of having both of America's biggest cities represented by Latino Democrats. (The other being Mayor Villaraigosa in Los Angeles, of course.) I need to learn to aprenda el español, dammit.