Anthony Weiner announced in a Times Op-Ed piece thsi morning that he is out of this year's Mayor's race:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/opinion/27aweiner.htm?_r=1

I think this could leave a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.  There were a lot of progressive activists who worked quite hard on his campaign four years ago.  Weiner made the runoff and then dropped out, telling supporters he was better positioned to run four years later (now) when the Mayor's seat was open then if he fought it to the end with Freddy Ferrer.  Saving the party a costly runoff was to score points with the establishment and make him the frontrunner this year.  Weiner's supporters, albeit upset that he didn't contest the runoff, at least accepted the wisdom of his argument. 

Yet now, four years later, the city is in huge financial crisis and desperately needs new leaders, and Weiner is in fact not running.  Granted even the primary would have been difficult given that most of the Democratic establishment (including Brooklyn party boss Vito Lopez) are backing Bill Thompson.  But what does Weiner say now to all those who have given him time and money the last four plus years? 

If Weiner truly cared about giving the city a choice in this election, and about pushing his core issues, then he should not trade in on all the hardwork and good will of his supporters like this.  These are people who made a committment to him and do not deserve to hear that, no matter how bad the city's financial crisis is, Bloomberg's too good and he's going back to Washington and 'see you in four years'

I seriously doubt a lot of these supporters are going to be in his corner four years from now.  How do you ask people who worked their asses off to get him in the position of being the Democratic frontrunner this year only to see him walk away to stay with him in four years? 

Anthony Weiner should have run for Mayor this year.  Even if he lost to Thompson, or if he made the general and Bloomberg handed him his ass.  The party needed a competitive primary and the city needed a strong voice to frame the debate over the current financial crisis.  I think Weiner has damaged his longterm political career.  He can keep his seat in Congress but people have long memories and I can't see him getting a lot of these supporters to back him for mayor, governor, senator or whatever in the future.  When you get committment from supporters, you owe *them* committment.  Weiner had an obligation to run this year and his dropping out and not making the race is going to be seen by some as a betrayal. 

Also we have to be concerned now that with Weiner out of the race that there are going to be ser ious turnout issues in the September primary.  Weiner has not helped the party *at all* with this decision not to run.