US News

BLOOMY HUNT FOR PARTY LINE

Mayor Bloomberg is likely to create a new third party for his re-election bid next year, while also seeking support from major parties, sources told The Post yesterday.

Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat who changed his party affiliation to Republican in 2001 to run for mayor, shed his GOP skin last year and does not belong to any party.

The mayor has not said publicly he will go for a third term, but is expected to make an announcement at City Hall today in favor of the City Council’s possible effort to extend term limits through legislation.

He also is expected to say today he is will seek a third term if the council changes the law.

The current framework for a bill is to allow officeholders to seek a third four-year term and have term limits reinstated by 2013, but there will also be a provision in the bill for those who want further changes to term limits to seek them through a public referendum, sources said.

In today’s Post, a group of prominent New Yorkers, including Henry Kissinger, Richard Parsons, David Rockefeller and Henry Kravis, signed an open letter to city residents calling on the council to extend term limits so New Yorkers “can vote for whomever they think can do the best job during these tough economic times, including our current mayor.”

Though the council is expected to pass a term-limits-extension bill, several members have begun voicing opposition.

Queens Democrat John Liu, who said he will run for a citywide office next year regardless of term-limits changes, derided the speculation.

“We shouldn’t have Mayor Bloomberg and a couple dozen people overturn the will of the people,” Liu said. “I cannot and will not support this. The reality is this is far bigger than me and my colleagues. This is a billionaire’s game.”

Bloomberg and council Speaker Christine Quinn, a strong Bloomberg ally, discussed term limits yesterday, but aides wouldn’t disclose details of the conversation.

Running on a third-party line next year would require circulating petitions and collecting at least 7,500 signatures to create the line.

Should he run next year, Bloomberg also is expected to seek other lines, including the Republican one, sources said.

Sources also said Bloomberg aides have begun contacting top officials, including state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-LI), to discuss his plans for an announcement today.

The mayor also had dinner last night with Gov. Paterson, who issued a statement praising the mayor and saying he would support Bloomberg for a third term.

sgoldenberg@nypost.com