Republican mayoral hopeful got the crucial backing of the NYC Conservative Party in his bid to succeed mayor Bloomberg. Mr. Lhota was joined Monday morning by New York State Conservative Party chairman Mike Long, Queens Conservative party chair and Brooklyn Conservative party chair Jerry Kassar on the steps of City Hall.

“Joe is the only candidate in this race that voters can trust to meet our challenges [that will determine the direction of our city] and ensure that our city continues to flourish,” said Mike Long.

Mr. Long said John Catsimatidis made no move to ask for the Conservative Party endorsement “and add to that he’s recreating the Liberal Party in the City of New York.”

The endorsement will now provide Mr. Lhota with an additional ballot line in November, should he win the Republican primary in September.

Asked whether he is committed running in November on the Conservative party line even in the event he loses the GOP primary to Mr. Catsimatidis, Mr. Lhota called it a hypothetical question. “I will win be the Republican nominee,” he said.

Nevertheless, Mr. Lhota did commit running all the way to November with the support of the Conservative party regardless of outcome in the GOP primary.

If not reconsidered, this commitment is likely to have an impact on the race in event of a loss in September. The possibility of a 4-way race, although unlikely, is the nightmare of any major party nominee.

John Catsimatidis’s spokesman wasn’t too impressed. “Today, Joe Lhota joined the ranks of the Reverend Stephen Christopher and Terence Gray; recent Conservative Party candidates for Mayor that few remember,” said Catsimatidis’s spokesperson Rob Ryan. “Unlike Joe Lhota, John Catsimatidis has never raised tolls, fares or taxes. John Catsimatidis will be a mayor for every New Yorker.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)