Republican mayoral hopeful John Catsimatidis filed at the Board of Election, Tuesday afternoon, 25,000 gathered petitions for the Republican Party nomination.

PIC: We have gathered over 25,000 signatures and will be filing imminently. #Petitions #nyc2013 #NYCMayor pic.twitter.com/ihV5U3iCzF

— John Catsimatidis (@JCats2013) July 9, 2013

In an interview with Curtis Sliwa, Monday morning, Mr. Catsimatidis dismissed the idea of a possible runoff in the Republican mayoral primary, suggesting it’s a two-man race, neck and neck, between Joe Lhota and himself, since George McDonald would not manage to qualify for the ballot. “I believe we are going to get at least 40 percent. I think George McDonald really disappears,” Mr. Catsimatidis told Sliwa. “I am not sure he is going to have enough signatures to continue, or enough money. He’s a nice man. But I think we just have to wait and see what happens on that end.” To which Sliwa insisted to predict a runoff both in the Democratic and Republican primary.

“Why the Republican primary,” Mr. Catsimatidis amusingly questioned. “That means George McDonald would need to get enough votes so one of us does not get 40 percent. I don’t think that’s possible,” he argued.

As of challenging Mr. McDonald’s petitions, if he manages to barely gather 3,750 signatures, Mr. Catisimatids said, “That’s up to my campaign guys who run the day to day operation.”

In a tweet response to this reporter, Mr. McDonald’s spokesman David Catalfamo noted the campaign filed 7,550 signatures at the Board of Election, just above the border line to overcome any specs’ challenge.

@jacobkornbluh @CurtisSliwa @McDonald4NYC @jcats2013 McDonald filed 7550 signatures today, there is no way he "disappears."

— David Catalfamo (@DaveCatalfamo) July 8, 2013

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)