Is He Planning a Bid for Mayor?

Anthony Weiner resigned from his Congressional seat just over one year ago in the wake of an embarrassing scandal – but he may already be planning a political comeback, possibly even a run for Mayor of New York City.

As a Congressman known for his sharp intellect and outspoken stands on such liberal touchstone issues as the health care overhaul, Anthony Weiner was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. But when he was forced to admit that he had been using the Internet to send out shockingly inappropriate messages and photos of himself to a number of female followers, Weiner’s career in public life came to a screeching halt, and any talk of a future mayoral candidacy seemed permanently terminated.

In spite of that unsettling turn of events, friends of Weiner are now reporting that he is considering a possible political comeback in 2013 – to run for public advocate, or possibly even for mayor as per his original plan.

“No question, but this is a trial balloon to see if the public will say ‘Anthony, let’s get going’ or ‘Anthony, stay home,’” political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said. One factor prompting Weiner’s potential return is the amount of money - $4.5 million – that he already amassed in his mayoral campaign chest before the scandal took him down. According to government regulations, Weiner must put those funds to use by next year or he will lose as much as $1.5 million in public matching funds. Other factors that may be motivating him are his own restless desire to get back in the political game, and the rumored attempts by his wife Huma Abedin to persuade him to rebuild his career and seek elective office. Weiner has denied that his wife is pressuring him in that regard.

One highly placed political observer asserted in a media interview that one year is simply too short a period of time for Weiner to already be plotting his return. “Anthony should shut his mouth and lay low,” he said. Still others feel that – given the gravity of his very public indiscretions – the former Congressman should not attempt to run for a high-profile citywide office such as mayor or public advocate. “Hard to see him as a mayoral candidate,” said Sheinkopf. “Why? Too soon. Public advocate? More likely than mayor, but a borough president? That’s an easy one.”

Bruce F. Berg, a political science professor at Fordham University, agreed with Sheinkopf. “It’s much, much too soon,” he stated emphatically. “In a crowded Democratic primary, especially for a citywide office, he doesn’t have a chance.” 

In the last couple of months, Weiner has made minor forays back into public life, commenting for an article on the television show Fox and Friends, and sitting down for an interview about health care on WNYC radio. During that discussion, Weiner was asked about his unpleasant downfall from politics. “I still have regrets,” he said. “I paid a very high price, but I’m still committed to the same things I was. As I’ve said, when I resigned, I feel great regret for the people I’ve let down.”

Despite all the latest buzz, Congressman Steve Israel says that he spoke privately with Weiner, and the ex-Congressman flatly stated that he has no interest in resuming elective office.  “I actually spoke with him to ask him about these rumors,” Israel related, “and he said that he has no intention, desire or interest in running for any of the offices that have been mentioned.”

A number of experts feel that it would make more sense for Weiner to run for an office that specifically encompasses Brooklyn or Queens – the areas he represented in Congress – because the voters there are already personally familiar with his record of achievements.

The latest gossip about Weiner indicates that he can make news even in the context of a mayoral primary that is filled with potential candidates. His sizable campaign chest gives him the upper hand over several other contenders, such as former city controller William Thompson, who has only raised $1.5 million for the race at this point.

At the same time, though, Weiner does not have some of the backup he previously did. His former pollster, Joel Benenson, is now on the staff of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, while two former political consultants, Jim Margolis and Anson Kaye, work for Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

All of the latest speculation about Weiner’s possible desire to force his way back into politics may be for naught, however. Just before press time, Weiner was asked by the Wall Street Journal to comment on his alleged ambitions for office, and he responded in an e-mail, “It’s a clown story, bro.”

Despite Weiner’s apparent insistence that he is not itching to jump back into the political fray, technical information may prove otherwise. A filing just made to the New York City Campaign Finance Board shows that he is still paying rent on a Manhattan campaign office. It also reveals that he, or a subordinate, held a meeting on July 7 at Mendy’s, a kosher deli in East Midtown.