How Long Until Bill Thompson Is Forced From The Race?

Unions are holding a "unity rally" for Bill de Blasio today:

Well, that didn't take long.

A steady stream of diehard Christine Quinn supporters have endorsed Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and plan to gather Thursday in Brooklyn for a "unity rally" to publicly stand behind the Democratic frontrunner.

The event includes top labor leaders like Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union President Stuart Appelbaum.

He was an early and ardent Quinn supporter, who just a few weeks ago blasted de Blasio for lying about his early involvement in crafting living wage legislation -- but that's the past now, Appelbaum told the News' Erin Durkin.

“It's time for Democrats to come together and focus on November,” said Appelbaum.

Also now backing de Blasio" Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union and the Hotel Trades Council.

"Last night, voters wanted change. They didn't want someone seen as an incumbent [as Quinn was]," said 32BJ leader Hector Figueroa.

"We feel that our issues won, and we can now coalesce around a candidate."

Notice the self-serving spin and b.s. coming from the labor leaders who backed Quinn.

It's horse hockey, of course - they don't believe a word of what they're saying any more than de Blasio believes a word of what they're saying.

But it's the politically expedient thing to do and pretty soon all of the unions are going to do this - even the ones that backed Thompson.

And yes, that means the UFT as well.

While Mulgrew and Company may stay away from the "unity rally" for de Blasio today, you can bet that behind the scenes Thompson is already being told "It's over, man."

His campaign co-chair, Merryl Tisch, told him that publicly yesterday in the Times and on WNYC.

The Quinn unions are telling him that by the speed with which they endorsed de Blasio - less than 24 hours after the polls closed on Primary Day.

You can be sure that Thompson is being told by the unions and the party apparatus that there will be no money for him, no fundraising, no ads placed on TV.

It's only a matter of time.

I suspect he'll be given until Monday to get out, giving him a chance to let votes be counted in full.

That's a face-saving gesture, however, because he's done already.

Notice, too, that unless I missed something on the Internets in the last 20 hours, Mulgrew and Weingarten haven't said anything about going to the mattresses for Thompson - not since the night of the primary when they were still in the heat of the battle.

That silence is telling and ultimately I think the UFT will join with the rest of the unions in backing Bill de Blasio for mayor after Thompson is given a chance to save face and make a grand gesture to the party by stepping aside.

Thompson would be wise to take that opportunity.

Given his own political expediency, I would bet my VAM he does.