Bloomberg Endorses Gay Marriage. Does It Help Rudy?

Nobody ever said that Rudy's record on gay rights would be a plus in a Republican primary, but might he look good in contrast to his successor?

Mayor Bloomberg landed another left on the right yesterday, coming out strongly in favor of gay marriage - and vowing the city will perform same-sex wedding ceremonies, if allowed.

The Republican mayor used his weekly Sunday radio address on Memorial Day weekend to say he is "firmly opposed" to any constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage.

President Bush and other prominent Republicans endorse the Federal Marriage Amendment, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The measure is set for a Senate vote next month.

"The U.S. Constitution should be something that unites, rather than divides Americans," said Bloomberg, a life-long Democrat who joined the GOP to run for mayor in 2001.

"I do not believe that government should be in the business of telling people who they can and can't marry," he added during the address on 1010 WINS.

I'm personally hoping for a falling out between Bloomberg and Giuliani. George W. Bush was helped by the tiff with Tom Pauken, the Texas GOP chair who was constantly ripping on the governor for selling out conservatives. Here's what that conflict said about Bush: "I'm not a scary extremist. I'm a different kind of Republican."

On gay marriage, Mike is pro and Rudy is anti. By allowing some distance to grow between them, Rudy can send a low-information signal that "I'm not a liberal Republican like Bloomberg. I'm the most conservative Mayor in New York history." (Which is not a stretch, considering the pedigree of La Guardia, Lindsay, and Bloomberg.)

Ideally, Bloomberg will endorse Hillary Clinton for re-election and say nice things about her during the primaries. He'll be set up as the "kinder, gentler Giuliani" leaving people -- especially conservatives -- longing for the original. Better still, Mike will get his wish and actually officiate at a gay marriage ceremony, while Rudy will protest this egregious act of judicial activism.

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