I was up until midnight last night following the NYC’s mayoral race. I’m streaming WNYC on the computer at this moment. Great discussion by Ester Fuchs.

This mayoral race was fascinating for so many reasons.

First, it was a return to normal politics. There were coalitions. There were alliances. Candidates were vying for endorsements by key groups and were making speeches trying to reach certain consistencies. I’ve missed that. Bloomberg didn’t have to do that, because he spent 100s of millions of his own money to bypass that Jacksonian democracy of city politics.

Second, there were plenty of surprises with lots of jockeying for first place. Quinn is the leader, then Weiner, then deBlasio.

Third, Sydney Leathers.

Fourth, where’s Huma?

Fifth, we started talking about issues that I haven’t heard in about twelve years – race, class, gentrification, unions, housing, and jobs. Not big gulp sodas.

Sixth, apparently Christine Quinn lost her own district and lost the gay vote. Can a woman win a mayoral race in New York City?