Alec Baldwin For NYC Mayor? Source: 'I Wouldn't Rule It Out'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Stunning and certainly unanticipated fallout emerged Wednesday from the so-called "Weinergate" scandal.
A major Hollywood star now sees it as an opportunity to jump into the 2013 New York City mayoral race, reports CBS 2's Marcia Kramer.
With Rep. Anthony Weiner possibly sexting himself out of the next mayoral race, Alec Baldwin sees it as a window of opportunity to jump from being the boss at "30 Rock" to being the boss at City Hall. Sources told Kramer on Wednesday the magnetic star is serious about it.
"I wouldn't rule it out," a close confident of the start told Kramer of the actor's desire to fill Michael Bloomberg's shoes.
Baldwin has long harbored political ambitions. In 1998 he appeared on CBS 2's Sunday political talk show, and in 2000 he campaigned with Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate. So, it was no surprise that in January he told Eliot Spitzer that he's ready to get into the political game.
"The answer is 'yes.' It's something I'm very, very interested in," Baldwin said on Jan. 5.
Baldwin is no stranger to controversy. A few years ago he was overheard expressing parental outrage at his teenage daughter.
"You are a rude, thoughtless little pig, okay?" Baldwin said during a phone conversation.
Pundits told Kramer that episode would be easy to overcome due to the things Baldwin brings to the table.
"He has great name recognition. He does in fact have a long involvement with politics, so he wouldn't have to learn many of these issues," said David Birdsell of Baruch College.
"He has very wealthy friends. Presumably he would be able to tap a fundraising network."
Former Mayor Ed Koch originally told a reporter that Mayor Bloomberg would support City Council Speaker Christine Quinn for mayor next year, but when Bloomberg's office objected, Koch modified it, saying Bloomberg is leaning toward her.
Now, he says, "I don't really know what he will do. I know that he and Christine have a very good relationship. I'm supporting Christine. So, I hope that Mike Bloomberg ultimately ends up supporting her."
Koch said he's told the speaker he would endorse Ray Kelly over her, but the police commissioner has told him many times that he's not interested.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb With Ed Koch
Podcast
"If Ray Kelly ran, I believe he would win and I would be supportive of him, but he has told me and everybody else a whole host of times that he will not be running and so my candidate is Christine Quinn, who I think is terrific," says Koch.
Of musings that Baldwin is contemplating a run, Koch said he should keep his day job.
The opening for Baldwin -- or anyone else for that matter -- has been provided by Weiner's Shakespearean tragedy-like collapse.
The calls for Weiner to pack it in keep escalating, with the latest coming from former Democratic Party Chairman Tim Kaine, who some think is sending a message to President Barack Obama.
"Lying is unforgivable. Public lying about something like this is unforgivable. He should resign," Kaine said.
Congressman Weiner is now in atonement mode, apologizing to supporters and donors alike. But one of the most difficult calls had to be to former President Bill Clinton, who presided over his marriage to wife Huma Abedin.
Late Wednesday afternoon, a Pennsylvania representative became the first Democratic member of Congress to call on Weiner to resign. Congresswoman Allyson Schwarz called Weiner's behavior offensive.
Would you vote for Alec Baldwin as NYC mayor? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.
