If you recall, Democrats were running Andrew Cuomo (Bill Clinton's HUD Secretary) and Carl McCall. Seeing this, Bloomberg ran as a Republican instead. When the Clinton's ultimately endorsed McCall (an African-American), Cuomo dropped out and McCall lost to Bloomberg.
It's no wonder that Bloomberg is returning to his roots, now that he doesn't need his GOP credentials anymore.
-PJ
Bloomberg wins N.Y. mayor’s race
Political novice defeats Democrat Green in upset to succeed Giuliani
IIRC, Carl McCall was beaten by Pataki the last time Pataki ran.
Sorry, you’re mixing the Gubernatorial and Mayoral races..... Green and Ferrer were the main ‘RAT contenders in the NYC mayoral race in 2001. You’re thinking of Cuomo and McCall from the Gubernatorial election.......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_results_for_mayor_of_New_York
2001 Mayoral elections occurred while Republican incumbent Rudy Giuliani was term-limited. As Democrats outnumber Republicans by 5 to 1 in the city, it was widely believed that a Democrat would succeed him in City Hall. However, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat, changed his party affiliation a few months before the election in order to avoid a crowded primary and ran as a Republican. The Democratic primary, held on September 25, a few days after September 11 attacks, opened the way to a bitter run-off between Ferrer, a Hispanic, and Green, a caucasian, that left the Party divided along racial lines.
Eventually, with the support of Mayor Giuliani, Bloomberg won a very close general election.
—Andrew Cuomo (Bill Clinton’s HUD Secretary) and Carl McCall—
I think those two were also running for NY Gov. in 2002.
Not quite. You're mixing up the 2001 NYC mayoral race and the 2002 governor's race.
Bloomberg bought the GOP nom because every Dem in the NYC area was vying for that slot -- Freddy Ferrer, Mark Green, as well as maybe half a dozen other forgettable political hacks.