As the most progressive candidate in the race for mayor, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio never managed to capitalize on his Union and progressive support to secure a place in the runoff. Despite standing taller above his rivals, his poll numbers were lagging since January, placed at a distance 3rd or 4th place. Now, that Anthony Weiner is in a free fall amid his latest scandal, Mr. de Blasio has been seeing his numbers go up.

In the most recent Quinnipiac poll of likely primary voters, Mr. de Blasio surpassed Bill Thompson by a small margin, landing in the most wanted 2nd place.

This morning, Mr. Blasio took it to national TV, appearing on Morning Joe, to tout his progressive credentials and celebrate his recent rise in public opinion polls. “I always had faith–I really did–that when people started to focus, which we know is only the weeks before an election in almost every instance except for a presidential election … when people start to focus, a real progressive impulse was going to come out in the New York City electorate,” he said.

Mr. de Blasio also used the opportunity on national television to reiterate his call for Mr. Weiner to bow out of the race.

“The sideshow has to end. I think Anthony Weiner loves New York City and he should act on that by stepping aside,” he told host Mika Brzezinski. “It’s time.”

Obviously, Mr. de Blasio added that even Mr. Weiner did bow out, he would have no interest in his endorsement.

“I think he has invalidated himself as a public figure obviously,” he reiterated. “That’s not an endorsement I would seek.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)