NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The New York Times endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his bid for re-election Sunday while criticizing him for spending millions on his campaign.
The newspaper said in an editorial that Bloomberg's greatest achievement has been to show that "good government is not a zero-sum game."
Bloomberg, a Republican, leads his Democratic opponent, Fernando Ferrer, in the polls. While the city is overwhelmingly Democratic, Republicans have held the mayor's job since Rudolph Giuliani ousted Mayor David Dinkins in 1993.
The Times praised Bloomberg for winning direct control of the school system and improving the city's schools, creating a 311 telephone system to allow New Yorkers easy access to government assistance and fostering racial harmony.
But the paper decried Bloomberg's use of his own fortune to win political office. Bloomberg, founder of the financial news service that bears his name, spent $75 million four years ago and has spent $50 million on his current campaign.
"It would be tragic if Mr. Bloomberg were mainly remembered as the rich man who bought two elections, and paid far too much for the second one, when he has so many achievements," the Times said.
