NYC Republicans warming to Bloomberg

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appears to be winning back Republican Party support for his re-election bid even though he left the party in 2007 to claim status as an independent.

The longtime Democrat turned Republican to run for mayor in 2001 and again in 2005, then turned non-partisan while he was considering an independent run for U.S. president.

Bloomberg opted against a run for the White House, and now that he will seek a third term as mayor in November, Bloomberg wants to run as the Republican Party candidate. He would maintain independent status by not registering with any party.

Some Republicans vowed never to support him when he left the party, but three of the city's five party bosses have said publicly they would allow him to run as a Republican.

Bloomberg, a self-made billionaire, has the support of party leaders from Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. If that holds through a party meeting this spring, Bloomberg could seek the party's nomination in September before the election.

"His poll numbers are high," said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia University. In a heavily Democratic city, Bloomberg "provides (Republicans) with someone willing to carry their banner."

The Independence Party this month formally endorsed Bloomberg, and he could run as the candidate for both parties.

Bloomberg has contributed to Democratic and Republican candidates and he has agreed to finance the Independence Party campaign for him as part of the endorsement deal. He gave $500,000 to the Republican Senate campaign committee in the run up to the last election, when Republicans were fighting to retain control of the State Senate.

"He's buying them," political analyst Douglas Muzzio said. "He's bought them in the past and he's buying them again."

(Editing by Doina Chiacu and Daniel Trotta)