April 10, 2008
Posted: 05:00 PM ET

From

BROOKLYN, New York (CNN) – Introducing John McCain before his economic speech and roundtable in Brooklyn on Thursday afternoon, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the Arizona senator for showing him the ropes when he ran for mayor in 2001 — and credited his victory to the presumptive Republican nominee.

“I got elected because of you,” Bloomberg told McCain. “So if the people of New York are happy, they should say thank you to you.”

The mayor joked that his “good friend” burned ribs on the barbecue during a visit to McCain’s ranch in Arizona, though, “I will say it’s relatively small to be called a ranch.”

The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Independent mayor showered McCain with compliments. “No matter what your political affiliation or your views are, [McCain] really deserves to have the term hero attached to his name,” said Bloomberg, calling the senator “nothing if not forthright.”

Bloomberg did make it known what he expected of McCain: “the measure I think we ought to apply in judging candidates is are they candid? Do they offer concrete solutions to our most difficult problems? And that’s what we’ll be looking for today.”

Without pointing to any one candidate, Bloomberg argued, “we need strong leadership, we needed it after 9/11 and I think we need it even more today than ever before.”

Filed under: John McCcain • Michael Bloomberg


Chanda-Cincinnati Ohio   April 10th, 2008 7:02 pm ET

Is that suppsoed to be a good thing?

jimmy golden   April 10th, 2008 7:09 pm ET

In my opinion , john mccain is the only candidate that is qualified to even be running for president , I truly hope that people will see the truth and make the right choice at the polls .

Brian   April 10th, 2008 7:12 pm ET

Vote for McCain! Keep sending American tax money to rebuild Iraq while our roads are developing pot holes and bridges are falling into the Mississippi. Don't worry about the recession or depression…. let's keep sending money to Iraq!

mike ikem umealo   April 10th, 2008 7:18 pm ET

Mr Bloomberg you can not remain a bat anylonger. Make your choice and support a progressive candidate between Obama and McCain. I understand that the Clintons are non issue for you. Please make up your mind quick.

unions are not stupid   April 10th, 2008 7:23 pm ET

well not much there two old republicans kissing how sweet better watch it the right wing will take you down for that sort of thing.

kathleen for Obama   April 10th, 2008 7:25 pm ET

I wouldn't mention the BBQ if I were you, Mr. Bloomberg.
And you have changed from the Democratic Party to be a Republican
News to me. Joined the cronies, did you? And Lieberman? Oh, must
have been for self-interest. Surely, it was not for "the people."

Bayou Joe   April 10th, 2008 7:36 pm ET

Mayor Bloomberg, You are on point on this one. We are at War. We may not like the war, but because of 9/11 and incidents before that were ignored by the Clinton administration we are at War. This is a time for strong leadership and not wimps in Washington.

McCain is the only one that will bring that leadership to Washington and like Reagan will tell the Iranains and the Syrians to stay out of Iraq and will have the Cojones to back it up. When Reagan took office after Carter and the Iranians held our Americans hostage. They wasted no time in releasing the hostages.

This is why McCain will win in November. If you don't have Freedom and support Freedom loving people, you may as well not have anything else. Because without Freedom man is doomed to slavery.
I would rather be a freeman and poor than a rich man worshipping Muhammed.

Oh Marion, Why?   April 10th, 2008 7:42 pm ET

That's good, John.

On another note:
Marion Jones' teammates might lose their medals, as well. I think this is unfair because they were not taking drugs. I think Marion should be stripped of her medals, but not her teammates. That is not fair.

I have no sympathy for Marion and think she was shameful to take those drugs. At the time I remember thinking she seemed so cocky and pompous, and I really did not want her to win.

kim portland, oregon   April 10th, 2008 7:43 pm ET

oh mike, i just lost soooooooooooo much respect for you! you have really let us all down!

Eric   April 10th, 2008 7:46 pm ET

JOHN MCCAIN WAS ONE OF THE KEATING FIVE.

Bridgette   April 10th, 2008 7:47 pm ET

I don't think McCain is a bad guy, but, I do believe that the country cannot afford him. If we stay i this war for four more years we are going to be bankrupt as a country. They keep saying we can't leave until victory, but, no one can say what victory is. And, I, believe because there is no definition of victory in this case. We are not going to change those people's mind about what they believe. They will never see women as their equals and it will never be a democracy. So if that is what we see as victory it won't happen. I also believe that he is prepared to strike Iran and if that happens you can't possibly believe that Iran is going to sit back and do nothing.

People please start listening to what these people have to say. They are talking about striking Iran. I guess they feel it worked out so well with invading Irag that they want to do it again. I do believe that Iran is not Iraq and we will be dealt a blow we may not recover from. How much money as citizens are we comfortable with owing China.

john williams san diego, ca.   April 10th, 2008 7:49 pm ET

i would NOT want that endorsement from bloomberg.

John Smith   April 10th, 2008 7:49 pm ET

What is your answer:

"I feel I should not follow the same rules that other people do"
TRUE FALSE

If you answered "true": You must be a Hillary supporter

If you answered "false": You must be a Obama supporter

Just a quick emotional test in politics!!

Olivia   April 10th, 2008 7:51 pm ET

McCain may be candid, but by his own admission he doesn't know a lot about the economy. In these times we need someone that does, who can address this problem strongly and clearly.
Obama is a novice. Hillary is the most experienced and the natural choice. New Yorkers know this and supported her.

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN PENNSYLVANIA! NC and IND…
VOTE FOR THE LOGICAL SENSIBLE CHOICE……..HILLARY.
DO IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Grif   April 10th, 2008 7:55 pm ET

So now he does it again. But, for himself this time. Every week, John proves himself more, and more… Now it's up to the Country…

From PA   April 10th, 2008 8:04 pm ET

Hillary Supporters for McCain!!!!!!!!!

Say NO to Barack Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel   April 10th, 2008 8:18 pm ET

Who cares? We need RonPaul!!!!!!!

Allen Reichle   April 10th, 2008 8:20 pm ET

It's absolutley right John McCain is a Republican yes but also a hero that fought for this country and should be deeply respected for his commitments and character.

David D Kollie   April 10th, 2008 8:21 pm ET

Bloomberg is a man of character. It proves that he honor and respects McCain despite his choice of candidate. Bloomberg did not speak out of loyalty to McCain but loyalty to this country and it's people.

I hope those who said that Bill Richardson was disloyal to the Clintons will understand that we grand honor and respect to those who have had/made impact in our lives, But we hold loyalty to our families and the very country that we love.

Go-Bloomberg. Good introduction.

Black Man for Hillary   April 10th, 2008 8:22 pm ET

Bloomberg is right. We need Hillary.

willis, Texas   April 10th, 2008 8:35 pm ET

Sounds like politicial courtesy! Not necessarily the truth — just politics!

Obama is the man for the job — sorry Hillary you don't qualify! When we need liars and thieves, we will call you and Bill.

Ali G   April 10th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

Don't hate on my boy Mike Bloomberg. He could have been president, but he's happy shilling on the low end of things as mayor. We'll be tight forever.

As long as he doesn't endorse McCain.

jimmy velman   April 10th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

TRADE WITH COLOMBIA IS BUT A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO OUR HUMUNGOUS TRADE WITH CHINA IN WHICH THEY ARE THE GREATER BENEFICIARIES AND CONTINUE TO RACK UP TREMENDOUS GAINS WHILE OUR COUNTRY RACKS UP TRADE IMBALANCES AGAINST THAT COUNTRY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY THAT WE IMPORT SO MUCH OF CHINESE PRODUCTS BUT THEIR CURRENCY IS UNDERVALUED AND SO THEY CAN MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST BY AMERICAN FACTORIES. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CHINA WILL CHANGE THEIR MANUFACTURING AND TRADE POLICIES ANYTIME SOON. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN THEREFORE WHAT THE NEW PRESIDENT WILL DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND BALANCE OUR TRADE WITH CHINA AND OTHER NATIONS.

jimmy velman   April 10th, 2008 8:53 pm ET

HILLARY FOR EXPERIENCE. HILLARY HAS BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND KNOWS AND IS ON SPEAKING TERMS WITH MANY OF THE WORLD'S LEADERS OUR GREAT COUNTRY CANNOT TAKE CHANCE ON AN INEXPERIENCED NOVICE LIKE OBAMA
WHO IS ALL RHETORIC WITH NO ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FOREIGN POLICY

John   April 10th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

Vote for McCain! Vote for a Democrat and not only will your money still be going to Iraq but your taxes will go up to pay for free health care for illegal aliens!

Tom,des moines   April 10th, 2008 9:04 pm ET

Hussein Obama will not beat McCain period. If he were the nominee? Why? Because Hussein obama can only win in CA,NV,MN,IA,IL,WI,CT,VT,MA,ME,WA,OR,HI,PR,GU,DE and that is way too short of 270 electoral college vote in order to win the presidency.

John Smith   April 10th, 2008 9:07 pm ET

Although not possible, as soon as Hillary starts to gain in the polls, it will excite the Republican base enough for us to begin to see their war machines. There are many Repulicans who are praying to have the chance to "get back at the Clintons directly." Indirectly, they got both Gore and Kerry for the sins of the Clintons, now they want to draw blood and they are waiting for the dems to be dumb again!

Conservative   April 10th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

McCain is causing the financial destruction of our social programs, but wanting amnesty

Val   April 10th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

Wow! That's great - sounds like Bloomberg is on McCain's side. You never know - New York maybe voting for McCain come general election. Another state that will be turning red in November. WAY TO GO SEN. MCCAIN!

McCain / Romney 08!

Mark, B'ham., Al.   April 10th, 2008 9:34 pm ET

Hillary and Barack are "Lawyers" so everyone knows they have no integrity only "lawyer truth". Bloomberg is right about McCain having integrity, even more integrity than both the democratic candidates do together!

Bayou Joe   April 10th, 2008 9:44 pm ET

Hillary is not available. Her campaign was sabotaged. McCain is our only option Brother. Yes, Bill Richardson is a traitor to the Democrats in New Mexico that voted for HIllary and to the Hispanic community nationwide.

OBAMA FOR SURE WILL WIN PA. 2008   April 10th, 2008 9:45 pm ET

Mayor Bloomberg, who cares if you are a traitor to your party.
Free BBQ with the cronies. Any trips around the world?????
with taxpayers dollars.

Obama will be getting an endorsement very, very soon from
the Great Mr. Colin Powell.

Bloomberg is wrong. America craves the truth. And it ain't Hillary.
Obama tells us the truth.

OBAMA FOR SURE WILL WIN PA. 2008   April 10th, 2008 9:47 pm ET

Mr. Bloomberg, Did you change parties before you won the
Mayer of N.Y. position? Did Guiliani talk you into changing parties?
I forgot.

OBAMA FOR SURE WILL WIN PA. 2008   April 10th, 2008 9:56 pm ET

Wait a minute!!! Invite to the cronie BBQ? McCain has big plans for
you Mr. Bloomberg but not when he loses. Hope N.Y. votes out
Hillary and Bloomberg. when the time comes and Bloomberg or
Hillary won't have anywhere in politics to go, I hope.

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