By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that New York would have been "better off" with more candidates in this year's U.S. Senate race, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
Former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman contemplated running against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, but both men decided against it this week.
Ford cited a potentially divisive primary that could weaken the Democratic party, and Zuckerman said business and family obligations kept him from running.
Bloomberg said he thought Gillibrand could have been defeated by either Ford or Zuckerman, the AP reported.
The mayor is friendly with media and real estate mogul Zuckerman and former Bloomberg campaign manager Bradley Tusk helped Ford explore his potential senate bid.
