Metro

Bill nixes run against Gilly

Former City Comptroller Bill Thompson last night put to bed speculation that he might run against poll-challenged Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — saying he’s focusing his sights on a mayoral-campaign rerun in 2013.

“I don’t think anyone is going to underestimate me again, I think that’s one thing,” Thompson told NY1’s “Inside City Hall.”

He also said he plans to start fund-raising soon.

But he made it clear that he feels “people overestimated the impact of campaign spending” in his race against Mayor Bloomberg, since he lost by fewer than 5 points after the mayor spent $102 million to win a third term.

Thompson, who got tepid support from the Democratic establishment and barely was endorsed by President Obama in his race against Bloomberg, is declaring his candidacy unusually early.

He is said to still be mulling his options for the interim period between now and the 2013 election.

As of now, in addition to Thompson, the likely mayoral field includes Rep. Anthony Weiner (B-Brooklyn/Queens) — who opted not to challenge Thompson in the Democratic primary — Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Comptroller John Liu and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

While Thompson had let his name be floated soon after the election as a possible Senate challenger, most insiders had predicted he wouldn’t challenge Gillibrand, a prolific fund-raiser who is the protégé of Sen. Charles Schumer.

maggie.haberman@nypost.com