The second group is less obvious: the liberal, Jewish Democratic establishment that was solidly behind Mark Green in 2001. Many of its leaders continue to loathe Ferrer adviser Roberto Ramirez, blaming him for the racially-charged implosion that year and for Mike Bloomberg’s victory.
“There’ll be plenty of people who see Virginia as a chance to return the favor that the Ramirez-Freddy Ferrer campaign did in ’01,” he said.
A particularly sharp example of this can be found in Riverdale, where people like Rep. Eliot Engel and Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz have, over the years, turned hating Roberto into an art form.
“They’ll never, ever back Freddy,” said a Democratic consultant. “They’re up for grabs, and they’re taking a hard look at Virginia.”
While only the Riverdale crowd has made any movement in that direction, the logic could be very appealing for Manhattan Democrats, who might lean toward their own Borough President anyway. It’s a way to a)screw Freddy and b)avoid the “racism” charges that his supporters have already show an eagerness to use.
