Bloomberg Says McCain Helped Him Win

Mayor Bloomberg is crediting the presumptive Republican nominee for president with having helped him win his first election in 2001.

"I got elected because of you. So if the people of New York are happy, they should say 'Thank you' to you, I guess," the mayor said yesterday while introducing Senator McCain, who was in Brooklyn to deliver a speech outlining his plans to manage the nation's subprime mortgage crisis and deal with rising oil and food prices.

There has been speculation that Mr. Bloomberg is likely to endorse Mr. McCain or even join his ticket.

"Today our economy is weakening, and as I travel this country and meet and talk with people, I can see how things are getting tougher for many Americans," Mr. McCain said. He warned that Congress should avoid "tax breaks for builders, funds to purchase homes in foreclosure, and tax credits that are not targeted to where the need is greatest," and said that some lenders and borrowers would have to pay a price for making irresponsible economic decisions.

"It is not the responsibility of the American public to spare them from the consequences of their own bad judgment," Mr. McCain said. He suggested that the government help some Americans with difficult mortgages restructure their debt. As for high gas and food prices, Mr. McCain said that America should look to nuclear power to help offset its dependency on oil.

Mr. Bloomberg praised Mr. McCain for his military service, as well as that of his family. The senator's son, James, has served in Iraq with the Marine Corps.

Last month, Mr. Bloomberg introduced Senator Obama before a speech at Cooper Union, setting off a wave of speculation that he might endorse Mr. Obama or become his running mate. The mayor said yesterday that he would be interested in introducing Senator Clinton as well. Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, who lobbied for a Bloomberg presidential run, has suggested that the mayor could be an attractive vice presidential candidate for either party's nominee.