Bloomberg shows 'em Dem money

BY DAVID SALTONSTALL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

Hoping to sock Democratic challenger Fernando Ferrer right where it hurts - in the checkbook - Mayor Bloomberg moved swiftly yesterday to trumpet his backing by some of the city's biggest Democratic givers.

The group, dubbed Democrats For Bloomberg, was supposed to convey a sense of broad, cross-party support for the Republican mayor as he heads toward November's election.

But these weren't just any Democrats: There was Steven Rattner, the financier who was a fund-raiser and adviser to presidential candidate John Kerry.

There was Roger Altman, deputy treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, and Alan Patricof, big giver to Democratic presidential hopeful Gen. Wesley Clark.
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"While we honor and love our party," said Rattner, "we recognize our higher obligation to our city. That's why we are here today - to say to our fellow Democrats, you can be true blue and still be true Bloomberg."

The event was the culmination of efforts by Bloomberg to choke off funds to the eventual Democratic nominee by locking up the party's most stalwart givers. Bloomberg, a billionaire and former Democrat, is financing his own big-money campaign.

Rattner, whose wife, Maureen White, is finance chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said the message was clear.

"I think we are basically saying to Democrats, 'Do whatever you think is right,'" he said. "But ... if you support the mayor, then presumably you are not going to be giving to other candidates."

So why is she head of the DNC finance committee if she and her husband give to Republicans.

Bloomberg has gone out of his way to be loyal to the GOP, even at the cost of the city. But these supposedly loyal Democrats are funding his campaign. Why?

I think it's time to ask why these people are supporting a Republican. What are their reasons? They're his friends? Or are they afraid of having a Puerto Rican mayor? Which is it?

from The News Blog