Mayoral Race Begins in Earnest Following Thompson's Primary Win

New York, NY —

The race for mayor is in full swing, a day after Democrats chose Bill Thompson to take on Mike Bloomberg in November.

REPORTER: Mayor Bloomberg wasted no time, greeting commuters in Forest Hills, Queens, and making his case for getting a third term in office.

BLOOMBERG: This city is a lot better than it was eight years ago, it is going in the right direction, I think people either are or will be after we explain what we've done happy with what we've accomplished and use that and build on it. And they don't want to go back to what it was before.

REPORTER: Bloomberg campaigned with another three-term mayor, former Mayor Ed Koch, who made his first public appearance since having heart surgery in June. He says Bloomberg is the best person to handle the city's financial challenges. Bill Thompson is with a firefighters' union to receive its endorsement.