UFT Plants "Kiss Of Death" On Bill De Blasio's Head

The UFT officially endorsed Bill de Blasio for mayor today after backing Bill Thompson in the primary. 

Thompson had refused to concede the race for mayor until all the votes were counted, but finally called it quits on Monday after many of his supporters reportedly told him he had to go.

Jill Colvin at Politicker reports that Mulgrew took personal credit for telling Thompson the game was over:

While some reports had suggested that Gov. Andrew Cuomo had played a key role in brokering the deal, Mr. Mulgrew claimed full credit tonight.

He began his remarks telling reporters about a previously undisclosed meeting he’d convened with Mr. Thompson and Mr. de Blasio last Saturday morning.

“It was this simple: What do we need to do for what is in the best interest of New York City? … And in the end, the decision was made that what was in the best interest of the city was to unite the Democratic party to make sure that a Democrat become the mayor of New York City and not the Republican nominee,” he said of the meeting. “On Monday, you saw a result of that conversation.”

Colvin also reports that Mulgrew's bravado still hasn't dissipated even after the UFT continued it's mayoral endorsement losing streak:

Later, Mr. Mulgrew said that there had been little discussion among the union’s delegates about what had gone wrong with Mr. Thompson, whom Mr. Mulgrew had vowed to “make” the city’s next mayor.

“Look, I’m a New York City teacher. You come in with a lesson every day. Most days it works out. Some days it doesn’t,” he said dismissively, noting that Mr. Thompson’s numbers had jumped considerably after the union’s endorsement and that the union’s attention had been divided between 54 simultaneous campaigns.

And despite being forced to realize his earlier bravado was overstated, Mr. Mulgrew once again dripped confidence when asked by Politicker whether he thought his union could make Mr. de Blasio mayor in the general election that is now underway.

“I absolutely believe that that is what we’re gonna do. No matter what Joe Lhota throws at us,” he said with a grin.

With a 43% lead in the race, I bet even the UFT planting the "kiss of death" on de Blasio with their endorsement can't kill his campaign.

But as I predicted earlier this week, Mulgrew remains unchastened by Thompson's loss.

Still got that @#$%-eating grin on his face, still talking tough.

What a fool.

I bet the reporters left that thing all laughing at him.

De Blasio too.

Hey, Mike, bragging doesn't impress anybody when you can't back up your words with any victories.