Quinn Endorses Thompson for Mayor

New York City council speaker Christine Quinn tepidly endorsed Comptroller William Thompson Jr. for mayor Monday, ending months of speculation about whether the high-profile lesbian Democrat would support the nominee of her party or back incumbent mayor Michael Bloomberg, a former Republican, now independent.

Quinn delivered her endorsement "off-handedly," according to the New York Daily News, as she spoke with a group of reporters after an unrelated event in Manhattan.

"I believe Bill Thompson has been a good controller," Quinn said, according to the Daily News. "I think he would be a good mayor, and I think it's very important that the Democrats are united."

Quinn, elected by her colleagues to head the city's 51-member legislative body in 2006, has developed a close working relationship with Mayor Bloomberg, who leads in the polls. Many of her fellow Democrats questioned what appeared to be her reluctance to support Thompson.

Quinn, who won her own reelection primary with 52% of the vote in a three-way race in September, needs the support of those Democrats to be reelected speaker in January.