Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer was in a “tailspin” yesterday after key allies were trounced in primaries – threatening his chances in next year’s mayoral race, Democratic sources said.
Voters surprisingly rejected all four candidates backed by Bronx Democratic leader Roberto Ramirez, whose muscle was supposed to deliver the borough to Ferrer next year.
“He’s screwed,” declared one Democratic operative. “Freddy needed a major show of strength from The Bronx. That’s his base. If that’s not 100 percent together, it hurts him a lot.”
Ferrer faces a tough mayoral primary next year against City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Comptroller Alan Hevesi and Public Advocate Mark Green.
Popular ex-Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is also firming up plans to run on the other side, telling the Bloomberg news service yesterday it “looks like I’m going to go for it as a Republican.”
A Ferrer spokesman insisted the beep will have big name recognition and a strong record – and has The Bronx solidly behind him.
“Anyone who thinks this is a problem has seriously misread the situation,” spokesman Alan Cappelli said.
“There may be some things that need to be worked out … but whether he won or lost, no party leader works harder than Ramirez,” Cappelli said.
Ramirez also laughed off Tuesday’s losses, saying his endorsement doesn’t make or break a candidate, especially one as strong as Ferrer.
One top Democrat who hopes Ferrer stays in the race said Ramirez’s embarrassing defeat “may even get Freddy off his [butt] and not assume his patron will take care of everything.”
But several Democrats said Ferrer’s fortunes are closely linked to Ramirez, who may have alienated Jewish voters with his choices.
“Freddy’s in a tailspin,” a City Hall insider said.
Ramirez backed, among others, state Sen. Larry Seabrook over incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel, and in a state Senate race, unknown teacher Michael Benedetto over Lorraine Coyle Koppell, wife of former Attorney General Oliver Koppell.
“Ramirez is Ferrer’s guy. You live by the sword, you die by the sword,” said another top elected Democrat.
Engel, who supported Ferrer when he ran for mayor in 1997, said in a statement yesterday, “It’s far too early” to back a candidate.
One clear winner coming out of the primary races was Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, after all but one of the embattled leader’s staunchest supporters snagged victories.
Silver, who beat back a rare midseason coup attempt in May, couldn’t afford to lose his core supporters as he prepares to seek a new two-year appointment.