New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed President Obama for re-election.
Writing in an opinion column for Bloomberg View, the mayor said "We need leadership from the White House," on climate change in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and it is President Obama, not a President Romney who will do so. The hurricane "brought the stakes of Tuesday's presidential election into sharp relief," Bloomberg wrote.
He praised Obama for taking steps to address environmental concerns through a variety of policies.
We need leadership from the White House -- and over the past four years, President Barack Obama has taken major steps to reduce our carbon consumption, including setting higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks. His administration also has adopted tighter controls on mercury emissions, which will help to close the dirtiest coal power plants (an effort I have supported through my philanthropy), which are estimated to kill 13,000 Americans a year.
Bloomberg caused a bit of kerfuffle earlier this week when he remarked that he didn't need the president to tour New York City in the aftermath of the hurricane because "we've got lots of things to do."
The New York City mayor, who initially ran as a Republican for office but later switched to an independent, also praised Obama's record on social issues, including gay rights and abortion rights.
The two parties’ nominees for president offer different visions of where they want to lead America.One believes a woman’s right to choose should be protected for future generations; one does not. That difference, given the likelihood of Supreme Court vacancies, weighs heavily on my decision.One recognizes marriage equality as consistent with America’s march of freedom; one does not. I want our president to be on the right side of history.One sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not. I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics.
Bloomberg, a businessman himself, called Romney a "good and decent man," who would bring "valuable business experience to the Oval Office." Yet, the mayor noted Romney has "reversed course" on all of his past "sensible positions on immigration, illegal guns, abortion rights and heath care."
The New York mayor criticized both men for not specifying how to get the economy back on track. He is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News.