Former President Clinton Supports Bloomberg — But Not Over Hillary
December 7th, 2007
While in the Bronx with Mayor Michael Bloomberg Friday to unveil a new initiative to make public housing more environmentally friendly, former President Bill Clinton lavished praise on the mayor but admitted that he wouldn’t like to see the mayor as one of his wife’s presidential rivals. NY1’s Rita Nissan filed the following report.
Mayor Bloomberg versus Hillary Clinton in a presidential contest is a match-up former President Bill Clinton says he hopes never comes to fruition.
“He’s been a really good mayor. What he does with the rest of his life, he’ll have to decide. I have the highest regard for him,” said the former president. “Obviously, I hope they never wind up being opponents just because I like him so much.”
Clinton and Bloomberg teamed up in the Bronx Friday to announce an initiative to make public housing more environmentally friendly. Clinton was quick to pile on the praise on the mayor.
“None of this would be possible without the leadership of Mayor Bloomberg,” said Clinton.
“I think he’s a good man and a great mayor and I think he’s also been a positive change agent.”
Bloomberg insists he’s going to focus on philanthropy when he leaves office, but many think he is also flirting with the idea of running for president as an Independent candidate.
At Friday’s event he leaned towards giving away his billions, with this remark to the former president.
“I’m glad to see after public service you can still make a big contribution. So in 754 days, I’ll have something to do,” said the mayor.
Whether there’s even room for an Independent candidate, Clinton - a master political strategizer – would not speculate.
“No one knows the answer to any of those questions until they happen,” said the former president.
What is happening right now is a fierce contest on the Democratic side, with Clinton talking up his wife’s credentials with the same adjective he used to describe the mayor.
“We need to make a new beginning and I just think she’s the most proven agent of positive change,” he said of his wife.
Saturday, President Clinton will be in South Carolina, perhaps to bring some star power to the campaign trail, because Barack Obama will be campaigning there this weekend with Oprah Winfrey.
SOURCE: NY1 Bronx
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