By Jill Colvin 5/15 9:55am

Starting lineup

Anthony Weiner. (Photo: Twitter)

Anthony Weiner’s Reported Hire Raises Questions, Sources Say

After weeks of hemming and hawing, it looks like ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner is finally ready to put his skates on and jump back onto the proverbial ice.

An unnamed source told the New York Post that Mr. Weiner is “definitely” running for mayor, and expects him to announce his bid sometime in the next 10 days–likely before Memorial Day, which just so happens to be the second anniversary of the fateful tweet that sent his career into free-fall. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/24 8:29pm

Prophecies

weiner cover

Weiner: ‘I’m Sure That Stuff Is Going to Come Out. Some of It May Be True’

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s media marathon today was even more expansive than it initially appeared, spanning at least six local channels as he seeks to repair his tarnished brand in the wake of an infamous Twitter scandal that forced his exit from Congress two years ago. In several of the interviews, Mr. Weiner hinted that additional lewd photographs or stories about his digital sex life could emerge, but he perhaps went the furthest on the topic with FOX 5′s Ti-Hua Chang.

“I’m sure that stuff is going to come out,” he answered when asked if anything “salacious” may still arrive. “Some of it may be true, some of it not … But I’m certainly not going to do anything more to bring anything up. But I know that people are digging around all the time.”

Mr. Weiner, who’s exploring a campaign for mayor, further said that some of women he contacted online may decide to sell their stories for attention, but suggested the press could simply ignore them going forward. Read More

By Colin Campbell and Jill Colvin 1:55pm

The Fourth Estate

Anthony Weiner (Photo: Getty)

Anthony Weiner’s Peculiar Press Strategy

As he explores a potential mayoral campaign, Anthony Weiner has become his own one-man press shop, often trading barbs with reporters on the news of the day. And, for a man who was forced to resign from Congress because of inappropriate electronic communications, Mr. Weiner doesn’t appear to expend much effort filtering his speech.

For example, a Politicker reporter shares a name with a famous ice hockey player, and Mr. Weiner, an avid hockey fan himself, focused on that fact during one of many interview requests.

“I totally just noticed your name! you play defense by any chance?” he jokingly asked, displaying both his trademark snark and his disinclination to discus the inquiry’s substance. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/16 11:30pm

Numbers Game

(Photo: Getty)

Poll: Anthony Weiner Would Enter Race in Second Place

Should he enter this year’s mayoral race, former Congressman Anthony Weiner would start at a decent position–15 percent–according to a new NBC New York-Marist poll released this evening. In the Democratic primary survey, Council Speaker Christine Quinn continues to lead the pack with 26 percent, with Comptroller John Liu, former Comptroller Bill Thompson and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio narrowly behind Mr. Weiner.

However, the key takeaway might not be the exact percentages, but rather the increased difficulty any candidate would have in reaching the 40-percent threshold to avoid a run-off with Mr. Weiner in the race. Read More

By Ross Barkan 4/15 8:55pm

The Weiner Revival

Rep. Anthony Weiner speaks during his p

Anthony Weiner Inches Towards Mayoral Bid With Television Interview

In his first television appearance since a social media-induced scandal torpedoed his political career two years ago, a contrite Anthony Weiner began to describe what life may be like under a theoretical Weiner Administration.

In particular, during the taped NY1 interview with Errol Louis, Mr. Weiner staked out several policy positions and offered criticism of the Democratic campaign primary thus far, edging closer to a mayoral bid that, based on the tone of the interview, appeared more likely.

“I got to do it soon. I mean, I’m starting the process and people are inviting me to come things and to talk to them about issues and I’m going to look for opportunities to talk about things as I move forward,” Mr. Weiner said, responding to a question about when he would officially launch a mayoral campaign. “I’ll tell you one thing for sure,  I want to be a part of the ideas primary, that’s for sure. That primary I want to do very well in.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/12 12:06pm

Public Service Announcement

Anthony Weiner (Photo: Getty)

Bloomberg on Weiner: ‘One Joke Is Fine. After That, Let’s Get Serious’

Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn’t finished lecturing the press about their coverage of former Congressman Anthony Weiner. In fact, New York’s mayor is so frustrated, he’ll kvetch on the topic unprompted. Indeed, Mr. Bloomberg began his weekly radio interview this morning by answering an unrelated question with complaints about Mr. Weiner and the Fourth Estate.

“Look, the press is talking about Weiner, and not his policies but his–you know,” he replied to the inquiry about Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s transportation proposal, proceeding to pooh-pooh the plan as unrealistic. “At least Quinn has got some ideas … At least she’s talking about something–policy–and something that’s important about the city.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/11 6:59pm

Frank Assessments

(Photo: Getty)

Weighing Weiner’s Impact in New York’s Mayoral Race

Anthony Weiner’s possible entry into the mayoral race is being thoroughly mocked by the New York Post and late-night comedians, but for the candidates already in the field, it’s not necessarily a light-hearted affair. Mr. Weiner, once the leading mayoral contender, tumbled out of the spotlight in 2011 thanks to a digital sex scandal and the ensuing cover-up. But as the former congressman still has a full campaign war chest and strong name recognition–and the fact that electoral politics is a zero-sum game–the question rises: which of his hypothetical rivals would be most impacted by his decision?

Speaking to various operatives involved in the race–usually off-the-record or on-background–three central arguments emerged: Mr. Weiner would hurt Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Chris Quinn or, possibly, no candidate at all. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/11 8:23am

fun with puns

(Photo: Newseum.org)

New York Post Relishes Return of Anthony Weiner

After former Congressman Anthony Weiner revealed his possible return to electoral politics yesterday, one could not help but wonder what pun-filled direction the New York Post would take. After all, during Mr. Weiner’s 2011 scandal, the tabloid simply wallowed in its own innuendos.

Today’s paper didn’t disappoint.

The Post‘s full coverage of Mr. Weiner’s potential mayoral candidacy starts with the cover, which blares “WEINER’S SECOND COMING!” and “Anthony: Erect me Mr. Mayor,” along with one of the sexual pictures that helped force his resignation. Read More