Rudy Giuliani and former Gov. George Pataki shored up Mayor Bloomberg’s right flank yesterday in Hizzoner’s struggle for the Republican line, saying the mayor is the best option they have.
“Basically, these are practical people who want to make sure that the city has a really good mayor,” Giuliani told The Post about the five GOP county leaders, whose rank-and-file are upset with the ex-Republican Bloomberg over a range of issues, including his turning independent last year.
“I think [Bloomberg] sits down and talks to them,” Giuliani said, adding that he has offered to help smooth things out with leaders whose feelings need to be “taken into account.”
“Their noses are out of joint that he moved out of the party, which is to be expected, but I think he can put it back together,” he said.
“There are two big things in running a city: safety and security, and the other is economic stability. And on those two issues, Mike makes them very comfortable.”
Pataki said the city is facing “as big a challenge as it’s ever faced in my lifetime,” and that the mayor is “someone who’s shown his ability to lead the city . . . [in] tough economic times.”
As The Post first reported, Bloomberg decided weeks ago to feel out GOP officials about running on their line, which would require permission from three of the five county leaders since he’s no longer a Republican.
But his efforts have met with resistance from the leaders, whose members are miffed about what one source described as “years of neglect” by Team Bloomberg.