Bloomberg picks up backing of Bill Clinton, Rangel (sort of)

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) appears to have the support of former President Bill Clinton (D) and Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) in his bid for a third term.

Nevermind the fact that there is still a Democrat, city Comptroller Bill Thompson, running against him.

From the New York Daily News:

“In my opinion, Mike Bloomberg’s been a great mayor for New York because he’s relentlessly focused on how to do things for the environment, on how to turn good intentions into powerful changes,” former President Bill Clinton said without being asked.

Clinton, who spent eight years as America’s most powerful Democrat, was seated next to Bloomberg at a climate change event.

He ducked a follow-up question about whether he’d like to see Bloomberg serve a third term, saying, “I think he’s doing a great job.”

At the same time, Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel, one of New York’s senior Democrats, said at an uptown event that he hasn’t taken sides in the mayor’s race.

“I really believe that Mayor Bloomberg has done a great job,” said Rangel, who added, however, that extending term limits was “totally unfair.”

Neither Clinton or Rangel outright endorsed Bloomberg, though.

Thompson spokesman Eduardo Castell responded by telling the News that Clinton and Rangel were just being nice. “If they’re standing with the mayor, they’re obviously going to be courteous,” he said. “If they were standing next to Bill Thompson, they’d be saying nice things about Bill Thompson.”

Recent polling shows Bloomberg with significant lead in the race.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com