If prominent elected Democrats don’t seem especially eager to see Freddy Ferrer become mayor, that’s probably because most are better off with four more years of Mayor Bloomberg. Some will even admit it.

One leading Democrat recently told me, with no hint of irony, “It’s not if we lose that’s important, but how we lose.” There is a tremendous sense of apathy among the city’s Democrats, particularly the big fund-raisers who keep politicians in office.

Mr. Ferrer does have one advantage this election season that provides some window for hope. After racial discord split the party in 2001, New York’s Democrats really do want to show a unified front. But that should not be interpreted as an investment in winning. While Democratic leaders have followed the script and endorsed Mr. Ferrer, they are generally more focused on the future – particularly their own.

What really excites Democrats is taking back City Hall in four years, the White House in three years, the statehouse next year. Maneuvering to win the inevitable vacancies for comptroller, public advocate, and various borough presidencies is abundant. Winning City Hall in 2005 has not won a prominent spot on the agenda.

This might all be different if Mr. Ferrer had a Republican opponent. Mr. Bloomberg famously used to be a Democrat, and still is at heart – his policy goals and political approach largely mimic core Democratic values. Even Mr. Ferrer finds himself challenged to muster a rationale for replacing the incumbent beyond distaste for the Republican label that hovers over him.

While Mr. Ferrer does not personally exude power, he would enter City Hall with a powerful moniker, “New York’s first Latino mayor.” The power vested in that lofty status would paralyze ambitious Democrats who crave power for themselves. Democrats would be under tremendous pressure to let a Mayor Ferrer lead with some degree of free will. With Mr. Bloomberg, they can have their cake and fight it, too. Democrats do agree with most of his policies. And when they don’t, they can win headlines simply by complaining he’s technically a Republican.

Four years can be an eternity in politics, but the next generation of Democrats is acting like 2009 will be here as soon as 2006. Take the New York City comptroller, William Thompson, who has all but declared his candidacy for mayor.

As for the party poobahs, they’re not exactly rallying the Democratic flag for Mr. Ferrer. Mayor Koch actually backs Mr. Bloomberg for re-election, and Mayor Dinkins told me on television that “if Mike were to succeed, I don’t think the world would come to an end.” The former City Council speaker, Peter Vallone, who forgettably lost for governor and mayor, came right out and said, “People have a great choice.”

Then there is Albany. Eliot Spitzer hopes to be governor, and would surely rather fight off a Republican’s demands than face pressure from a fellow Democrat who represents the fastest growing ethnic group. The same goes for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has amassed great power during a tenure that has featured only Republican mayors. As for the City Council, the four-dozen Democrats would rather woo their constituents with tales of fighting a Republican mayor than obediently obey a Democrat.

Even the state’s most popular Democrats have more political flexibility with Mr. Bloomberg in power. Senator Clinton is running to the right in her race to reelection and beyond. Senator Schumer’s wife literally works for the mayor and is reportedly angling for a promotion to Deputy Mayor. When they’re in Washington, the senators are hardly shy about criticizing President Bush on a host of matters. But neither has adopted Mr. Ferrer’s criticism of Mr. Bloomberg for supporting Mr. Bush.

Mr. Ferrer’s Hail Mary pass for City Hall invokes the rather unimaginative strategy of linking Mr. Bloomberg to President Bush. But you don’t hear many Democrats who’ve won significant office joining his battle cry. It’s worth noting that Howard Dean, who cheerily joined Mr. Ferrer for an afternoon of Bushbashing this week, self-destructed as a candidate for significant office.

The senators could lend the Bush-Bloomberg bashing some much-needed resonance – and attract national press attention that begets national cash. But the senators won’t stand with Mr. Ferrer and take shots at Mr. Bloomberg. Instead they praise Mr. Bloomberg. The senators did endorse Mr. Ferrer, of course, but they did it together – making two endorsements a one-day story. Ten days later, Senator Clinton sat smiling next to Bloomberg at the mayor’s featured event of the day. A photograph of them together wound up on the home page of the city’s Web site within hours.

Mr. Ferrer needs more from these Democrats not only because he needs more money, but also because he needs white voters to support him. Mr. Bloomberg is strategically spending tens of millions of dollars to prevent Mr. Ferrer from turning the metaphorical black-Latino coalition into reality. Mr. Ferrer needs to make up for that with white support, which would in turn provide more credibility for his efforts to link Mr. Bloomberg to Mr. Bush.

Mr. Ferrer can still pull off a come-from-behind victory. The city has 5.5 Democrats for every one Republican, and Mr. Bloomberg’s tax increases haven’t exactly enchanted the base that helped hizzoner squeak by four years ago. If Mr. Ferrer does win, big name Democrats will promptly swarm around him to claim their piece of the credit they won’t deserve. They still have time to do more than pretend they’re trying.

Mr. Goldin is a host of NY1’s “Road to City Hall,” which airs weeknights at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.