Supporters of Republican mayoral nominee Joe Lhota are preparing to launch a national fund-raising campaign to propel him into City Hall, The Post has learned.
Lhota took the day off from politicking Wednesday to commemorate 9/11, but GOP operatives were working the phones to lay the groundwork for his upcoming general election battle against Bill de Blasio, his presumptive Democratic rival.
“There will be a national excitement because Joe is a different type of Republican,” said one source, referring to his libertarian social views and conservative fiscal policies.
Lhota will have help from such heavy hitters as Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone and oil baron David Koch, both of whom have maxed out with $4,950 donations to his campaign.
Koch and his wife also gave $145,050 to a pro-Lhota PAC, “New Yorkers for Proven Leadership.”
Sources said the group will begin airing television ads to promote Lhota as soon as de Blasio officially clinches the Democratic nomination.
“I think the people of the city are ready for change, but not radical change,” said Mike McKeon, a PAC spokesman.
“They don’t want to take a hard turn to the left.”
One knowledgeable source said the campaign will be reaching out to other top GOP donors, especially since there aren’t races as competitive across the country to compete for dollars.
Koch is already making calls to his rich friends on Lhota’s behalf, sources said.
Records show Lhota has only about $435,000 left in his campaign account, compared to de Blasio’s roughly $1.3 million.
Both candidates received public-matching funds and are capped at spending $6.4 million each in the general election, which makes the independent groups all the more important.
Lhota has also been courting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie since the winter, and now that the primary is over, he’s making another push to get his endorsement.
Christie stayed out of the primary fray because he received large donations from Lhota’s opponent, billionaire John Catsimatidis.
But Christie doesn’t have to worry about offending Catsimatidis anymore.
The billionaire businessman, whose whimsical campaign was a thorn in Lhota’s side, may still be an obstacle.
Catsimatidis is still on the Liberal Party line and on a second unnamed ballot line that used to be called “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.”
The Board of Elections rejected the name, but Catsimatidis has submitted other names that are pending approval.
An aide said Catsimatidis hasn’t decided whether to keep running.
“John is assessing the future and will make a decision soon,” said his spokesman, Rob Ryan.
Meanwhile, GOP state Party Chairman Ed Cox, whose son is married to Catsimatidis’ daughter, continues to take a hands-off approach.
“We’re still ironing out the details,” said Cox spokesman David Laska. “But in the immediate aftermath of last night’s primary, one thing is certain: Republicans are united behind Joe Lhota.”
While other candidates went to Ground Zero on Wednesday, Lhota did not, nor did he campaign.
Lhota, a deputy mayor to Rudy Giuliani, was almost killed when the second plane hit the south tower on 9/11.
As debris rained, Lhota jumped into a parked car seconds before a huge piece of metal came crashing down.
He made it to the nearby fire command center, where he met up with Giuliani and helped lead the city’s recovery efforts.