All sorts of people gathered last night at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, and they all agreed on one thing: four more years.

Laborers, civil servants, and a retired judge joined politicians and people right off the street to rally behind Mayor Bloomberg at the unofficial kickoff to his campaign for re-election. The purpose of the event at the Times Square establishment was to drum up volunteers for the campaign.

Mr. Bloomberg hopes to increase his volunteer ranks tenfold from 2001, with a goal of attracting 50,000 people. Judging by the packed-to-the-rafters crowd and the line of those who couldn’t get in extending down the block, that figure may not be out of reach. “We will create the most diverse coalition ever to come together in a mayoral election,” the mayor said. “I’m not asking for your money,” he told the crowd, “but I’m asking for your support.”

[In a good early sign for the mayor, the New York Times reported on its Web site last night that 41% of registered voters polled by the newspaper view the mayor favorably, up from 31% last summer. However, only 43% say they approve of the job he has done; 45% say they disapprove. The poll found that Mr. Bloomberg would lose an election to an unnamed Democrat by 52% to 30%.]

Although Mr. Bloomberg is a Republican candidate, it was difficult to find many members of his party in the crowd. And judging by the abundance of “Democrats for Bloomberg” buttons and posters, there is a good reason for that.

“If you didn’t include Democrats, there would be five people here,” said Louis Hernandez, a Brooklyn resident who said he had converted to the Democratic Party.

Sean Gorman is a Republican who comes from a strong Democratic family in Chicago. He said he is new to the area and has already learned a crucial lesson of New York City politics: “Having the Republican vote is not going to get you anything,” he said.

“I support whoever is doing the right thing,” said Augie Ayala of Brooklyn. “I’m a Democrat, but I support Bloomberg’s agenda for New York.”

Winchester Key, a Brooklyn Democrat, agreed. “There’s only two ways to go – either you’re right or wrong,” he said. “He’s right. That’s where my line is. I think he’s good for the city, and it has nothing to do with anything else.”

As the rhythms of “Funky Town” played in the background, one look around the room was enough to prove that the song was quite fitting. His supporters like him for reasons as diverse as they are. Charles Goss doesn’t care so much about Mr. Bloomberg’s politics as he does for his suave style. The first time he saw Mr. Bloomberg on television, he said, he thought to himself, “He’s a sharp dresser. He’s cool and very sophisticated. I like that.” Then, when he had the occasion to meet Mr. Bloomberg in person, “I told him that – and he blushed,” Mr. Goss said.

Others, of course, have more serious reasons for backing Mr. Bloomberg. Edward Jorge, an ironworker, said that he supports the mayor’s plans for the West Side stadium and the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Center. “He’s all for jobs, and we need jobs,” Mr. Jorge said. He said he is glad to see bipartisan support behind Mr. Bloomberg. “With the forces coming together, we can work out our differences,” he said.

Mr. Ayala said business at his Williamsburg beverage-distributing company has gotten better since Mr. Bloomberg became mayor.

As he took the podium, Mr. Bloomberg announced, “Yesterday was my 63rd birthday, and tonight is the best birthday present anybody’s ever had.” Members of the crowd roared their support and wildly waved posters with slogans like “Amigos de Bloomberg” and “Harlem Loves Mike.”

Looking out at his diverse sea of fans, Mr. Bloomberg reassured them that he will keep up his end of the bargain. Of the many plans for the city that he vowed to put into action during his last campaign, “The job is far from done, but we will not go back on the promises we have made,” he said. “I can stand here and look you in the eye and say I’m keeping my promise.”