By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Former City Comptroller William Thompson is running for mayor — again.
The early announcement of his 2013 candidacy follows Thompson’s surprisingly narrow November loss to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who spent a record breaking $102 million on his campaign.
"I don't think anyone is going to underestimate me again is one thing, and I think that people overestimated the impact of campaign spending," Thompson told NY1 Tuesday night.
"I was working at a disadvantage and an uphill battle," he said. "So I think, from the beginning, both the political pundits and the reporters as well as pollsters overlooked some things and missed some things, missed the desire of people all across the city for change, and I don't think that will happen again."
There was talk that Thompson would challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for her seat, but Thompson insisted that his focus was on the city.
He said he wanted to continue to address the issues central to his 2009 campaign, including making the city affordable for middle class New Yorkers and increasing low-income housing.
Former Sen. Al D’Amato said on NY1 that there were some advantages to Thompson's early campaign announcement.
“He’ll dissuade others who say ‘That’s where I want to go,’” D’Amato said of potential challengers, which could include City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Comptroller John Liu and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
