Now that Bill de Blasio has taken lead as the current front-runner in New York City's mayoral race, he's become the target of many sharp attacks from other Democratic contenders.
De Blasio, who serves as the city's public advocate, is competing against Christine Quinn, John Liu, Bill Thompson, Anthony Weiner, Sal Albanese and Erick Salgado in the Democratic primary which will take place Sept. 10. The general election will be held Nov. 5.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll revealed that de Blasio's support had doubled in less than a month, pushing him from fourth to slightly ahead of the pack. A second poll released last week showed him in a dead heat with City Council speaker Christine Quinn, while former comptroller Bill Thompson not far behind, reports the Boston Globe. Weiner, who was once the party's favorite, now comes in fourth in light of recent news surrounding his sexting scandal.
To distinguish himself from the other Democratic contenders, de Blasio released a campaign ad addressing the NYPD's controversial Stop and Frisk policy and declaring that he is "the only candidate to end a Stop and Frisk era that targets minorities."
This has drawn sharp criticism from his two closest competitors, Thompson and Quinn. On Friday, Thompson blasted de Blasio's newest TV commercial.
"That ad is something that continues to be just false. The NY Times has indicated it is inaccurate. He needs to take the ad down," Thompson said.
In response, de Blasio has defended the ad, arguing that he's the only candidate for mayor in favor of all three big Stop and Frisk ideas, a ban on racial profiling, an independent inspector general, and getting rid of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
"I think the truth is the truth and if one of my opponents is somehow worried that I'm explaining the truth of this issue, well, that's his particular challenge," de Blasio said, according to ABC News.
Quinn also ripped de Blasio on the issue of Stop and Frisk.
"This is just another example of the Public Advocate talking out of both sides of his mouth," she said.
Speaker Quinn Friday pointed out de Blasio's criticism towards her for siding with Ray Kelly, yet de Blasio has praised Kelly's chief deputy.
Also, Quinn asked why de Blasio is getting so much credit on Stop and Frisk when he's talked of possibly bringing back Bill Bratton as his police commissioner.
"And the other person he would consider is Bill Bratton, a man that the Detroit News called the pioneer of Stop and Frisk," Quinn said.
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