The developing race for mayor of New York moves upstate on Wednesday as Public Advocate Bill de Blasio makes the rounds among potential supporters in Buffalo -- courtesy of former County Executive Joel A. Giambra.
de Blasio, who ranks second in New York City government as public advocate, is considered a likely Democratic candidate to succeed outgoing Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2013. Giambra said Tuesday he is sponsoring a Wednesday "friend raiser" at the 31 Club on Elmwood Avenue to bring together potential de Blasio supporters.
"He doesn't buy this notion that there is a separate upstate and downstate," said Giambra, a Republican. "He wants to build bridges."
de Blasio is a former New York City councilman who has previously worked for Andrew M. Cuomo and Hillary Rodham Clinton. He is considered a major figure in the 2013 mayoral race, which Giambra said is always of interest to upstaters with family and business ties to the city.
--Robert J. McCarthy
