New Yorkers Cast Votes for Mayor

NEW YORK - New Yorkers began casting their votes for mayor before sunrise Tuesday, just hours after incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg ended his final day of campaigning on a high point — from atop the Empire State Building.



The appearance more than 1,000 feet above the city's streets was a fitting finish for a re-election machine that appeared limitless in every way, with no expense spared, nonstop advertising and sky-high poll numbers against Democrat Fernando Ferrer.

Ferrer, who has been outspent about 10 times over by Bloomberg, tried to convince voters that the billionaire incumbent's personal spending on the race was "obscene" — but even in predominantly Democratic New York, many remained unconvinced.

"He used a lot of his own money, so why not, if it's not ours. ... Why can't he use it," said Sean Murphy, a 31-year-old plumber from Staten Island who said he planned to vote for Bloomberg later in the day. "He hasn't done anything wrong."

Queens resident William Martzinek said he thought Bloomberg's financial advantage was probably unfair, but that still wouldn't change his vote.

"I like the work he's done," the 41-year-old telecommunications technician said of Bloomberg. "It's more about what he's about than the money."

Despite trailing Bloomberg in the latest poll by a painful 38 points, Ferrer promised Monday to surprise naysayers. The former Bronx borough president, who has been outspent about 10 times over by Bloomberg, called in an all-star list of national Democrats — including former President Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama — to support him in his final days of campaigning.

Ferrer, who has tried to portray Bloomberg as an elitist who abandoned middle-class New Yorkers to cater to the interests of the wealthy, voted Tuesday morning, arriving at the polling place with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren. The mayor, who also voted Tuesday, has argued that Ferrer is a complainer who never offers real solutions.

Ferrer insisted he was in a "tremendously optimistic mood" as he wrapped up his campaign Monday with Obama and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Walking with Ferrer through the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, Obama said New York City voters should ignore the dismal pre-election opinion polls.

"What they should do is think about what's in their hearts," he said.

Earlier, Ferrer marched through downtown Brooklyn with the Rev. Al Sharpton, surrounded by supporters as they urged passers-by to help out the underdog. The pair stopped to kiss babies, shake hands and even stopped city buses so they could board and schmooze captive audiences.

Opinion polls have consistently found him lagging far behind the popular Republican mayor, but Ferrer was still promising an "immense surprise" when the votes are counted. The Democrat is making his third run for City Hall, and would be the city's first Latino mayor if elected.

Battling what he has described as Bloomberg's "brick wall" of endless spending, Ferrer was forced to wage his campaign with fewer workers, a smaller volunteer operation and a skimpy advertising budget. Ferrer relied on public matching funds and was predicted to spend about a tenth of the mayor's total, which is likely to break his 2001 record of $74 million.

Toward the end of the day Monday, the differences in the candidates' paths were clear. Even as Ferrer hit a rush-hour subway stop and headed to his last pre-election fund-raiser, a relaxed and happy Bloomberg played bingo and went bowling with volunteers.

Still, despite his perceived lead, Bloomberg was out early on Monday to greet commuters and ride the ferry from Staten Island. He then took a whirlwind tour of senior centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, where he urged voters to help give him another four years. Later he stopped in the Bronx with former Mayor Ed Koch, visiting supporters at their homes.

"I know you're going to win," said one woman, standing in a yard with several of her friends.

"Let's not take that for granted," he told her. "Come out and vote tomorrow."

His resource-rich campaign even provided a shuttle service to cart voters to their polling places if they are elderly or disabled and need transportation. The shuttle service is just one part of his campaign's relentless get-out-the-vote drive, which reached millions of people by knocking on doors, writing letters and handing out literature.

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