John Corzine may have spent $60 million of his own money on a run for the Senate in 2000, but that still doesn't top his fellow financier to the north, Michael Bloomberg, who spent $74 million in his successful run to become mayor of New York. Bloomberg might not have quite as easy of a time running for reelection, however, Anthony Weiner aside.

The City Council overwhelmingly overrode a mayoral veto Wednesday on a bill that grants extra public money to people facing wealthy self-financed candidates like Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who spent $74 million of his money to win election in 2001.

The legislation increases the matching funds for office seekers running against wealthy candidates who opt out of the campaign finance system from $5 for every $1 privately raised to $6 for every $1.

Also, the total amount in public funds available to a candidate under the campaign finance system would increase from $3.8 million to $7.2 million.

Absent lengthy legal battles, the legislation could become law in time for next November's mayoral election, when Bloomberg plans to seek a second term.

Link.

I'm not sure if Bloomberg will lose, even in this heavily Democratic city. His refusal to speak at the Republican National Convention certainly did not hurt him; neither does the fact that he's really a Democrat.

Weiner is an interesting guy, though, and I think he'd make a great mayor. He was a staffer for then-Congressman Chuck Schumer before becoming the youngest New York City Councilman ever. Weiner won Schumer's seat when the latter ascended to the Senate and has been in the House ever since. The 2005 New York Mayoral race will be one of the most interesting the nation has seen in years, so stay tuned.