Bloomberg Bids For GOP Backing

New York, NY —

This morning, Mayor Bloomberg will meet with the City's Republican County chairs and try to convince them they should let him run on their ballot line. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

REPORTER: The stakes are high for the mayor. He has to get at least three of the county organizations to give him a thumbs up so that even as a non-republican, non-party member, he can appear on the September primary ballot.

Back in 2007, at the height of speculation the mayor would run for president as an independent, he quit the GOP.

A recent survey of the city's GOP leaders indicates the mayor does not have the support he needs. But veteran Brooklyn State Senator Martin Golden says he expects his fellow republicans will ultimately support the mayor. He says that could deprive democrats like Comptroller Bill Thompson and Congressman Anthony Weiner of the mayoralty. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.