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Bloomberg Says He Knows Who He's Going to Vote For to Replace Him

By Jill Colvin | March 18, 2013 5:16pm
 Michael Bloomberg revealed Monday that he knows who he's going to vote for to succeed him as mayor.
Michael Bloomberg revealed Monday that he knows who he's going to vote for to succeed him as mayor.
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DNAinfo/Jill Colvin

CITY HALL — Mayor Michael Bloomberg revealed Monday that he knows exactly who he wants to succeed him as mayor in 2014 — but he refused to spill the beans.

"I'm certainly going to vote, and I know who I'm going to vote for," he said during a press conference at the Queens Hospital Center, where he announced a plan to force retailers to keep cigarettes out of site.

“I made up my mind a while ago. But I still listen to everybody," he said.

Still, Bloomberg continued to play coy, refusing to reveal his pick.

“Am I going to tell you? No," he said, after being pressed for an answer by reporters.

The revelation came in response to a question about Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, who said during a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday night that he might want to run for mayor of the city one day.

Bloomberg said he thought it was likely too late for anyone new to join the race, but said that he was generally happy with the field despite reports to the contrary.

"I mean, I think that there’s a real choice out there," he said. "The candidates are starting to say what they stand for, whether they’re in favor of improving our schools, whether they’re in favor of keeping us safe, whether they’re in favor of keeping businesses from fleeing the city or not.

“It seems to me the choices are pretty obvious out there," he said, adding that he had yet to decide whether he would offer an official endorsement.

Of course, as an independent, Bloomberg won't be able to vote in the city's September primary, which is only open to party members — meaning he assumes that his chosen candidate will make it to the general election.

Bloomberg has repeatedly gone out of his way in recent months to praise Democratic City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the early frontrunner who paved the way for his third term.

But his daughter recently contributed to former MTA Chairman Joe Lhota, the Republican frontrunner, leading to some speculation that he might share her views.