The Drum Major Institute's meeting at Baruch College yesterday was important and remarkable as much for who was there as for what was said. Three elected officials who may run for Mayor in 2009 spoke and gave those of us in the audience a side-by-side view of them as policy makers as well as campaigners. While there's a lot of substance to write about the meeting, mayoral electoral politics was on the minds of many. Diane Cardwell's NY Times article also focused on the men who would be Mayor My post on the substance will follow later today.

NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson, Congress Member Anthony Weiner and Bronx Borough President Adolpho Carrion spoke and worked the room which was filled with lobbyists, consultants, non-profit executives and policy-junkies like me. What I saw surprised me.

Judging only by their focus and remarks Monday Comptroller Thompson and Bronx Beep Carrion do not intend to run against Mayor Bloomberg's record. This was a surprise to me, since of late, a firestorm of criticism against the Mayor has been burning over Mr. Bloomberg's education policies and practices. Indeed Mr. Thompson has sometimes been one of those setting the anti-Bloomberg fire alight.

Listening yesterday, however, the only potential candidate who clearly articulated a progressive platform against Mr. Bloomberg's record was Congress Member Weiner. As in his previous run for Mayor, Mr. Weiner was focused, smart and informed. On a panel with Council Member John Liu and Carrion, Weiner wit sparkled. On health care for employees of small business, for example, Weiner proposed that NYC bring the cost down by forming a small-business buyers' cooperative. It's well known that those entities able to deliver big pools of insured people (Big Corporations, NYC) get better insurance for lower prices. It's not the best solution (single payer, universal health insurance, as I see it), but its better than what we have now for small business. Carrion and Lu were skeptical and critical without any thought out reasons. I guess I'm also a fan of Mr. Weiner's Schumer-style sharpness and repartee.

The question is, should Bill Thompson start looking for real estate up in Albany.

From the Daily News :

"If he wins, he is going to be alone, a pariah. It will be the beginning of the end," said one Democratic operative.

Democratic leaders are hoping Hevesi secures another term so they can name another party pol to complete his term.

If he is impeached or resigns, the Senate and Assembly would vote on a successor - who would almost certainly be a Democrat because the party makes up the majority of the Legislature.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said he was sticking by Hevesi, calling Republican hopeful Christopher Callaghan unfit for the job. "Callaghan is not the alternative," Silver said.

So Alan Hevesi is not going to the victory party organized by Eliot Spitzer. I guess it is understandable: Eliot withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi in the wake of the comptroller's Cargate scandal.

The question on my mind? Wouldn't New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson be a great replacement for him at the party? Hevesi should comp Bill with his tickets.