NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg

It’s nice to be Mike. Bloomberg that is. And not only because he’s (still) worth multiple billions of dollars.

The new Marist Poll out Friday shows why it’s virtually impossible to see how Mike Bloomberg is stopped from winning a third term as Mayor later this year.

Despite the “Blues for Bloomberg?” headline a quick peak into the numbers shows that Bloomberg is broadly popular among New Yorkers and actually in a better position than he was at this time in 2005. And he’s ready to spend even more than the $80 million in blew through then on his way to a 18-point win.

The headline-inducing number — 55% of NYC voters say it’s time to elect “someone else” — is undercut by what voters told pollsters to other questions.

Sure, the mayor’s approval numbers have dropped pretty substantially in the last few months (from 68% in October to 52% now) but it’s still higher than his approval number in March of 2005 when it was just 43%.

Marist Polls on Bloomberg's Popularity

Far more telling though is what voters said when asked more specific questions: “If the election were held today would you vote for Bloomberg or (Democrat) Anthony Weiner?” Voters pick Bloomie 53%-37%. Same question but switch Bill Thompson for Weiner and it’s the same story: Bloomie wins 53%-36%.

Then there are the questions that get to the root of how people are really feeling as opposed to what they may tell pollsters about how they might vote eight months from now: Is Bloomberg working hard as Mayor? 80% say he is. Does he understand the problems facing the city? 68% say he does. And the clincher, is he a good leader? 67% think he is.

If you’re Thompson or Weiner or dark horse Dem Tony Avella there are some numbers that could give you hope and a line of attack:  “Does Bloomberg care about people like you?” 47% agree but 50% disagree. “Was changing term limits a good thing? 25% say it was, 46% say it was not, 29% don’t care. But honestly, it’s a pretty faint glimmer when you remember you will be outspent four or five to one.

In much the same way that many New Yorkers thought Rudy Giuliani was an a**hole but voted for him because he was our a**hole, voters think Bloomberg is something of an imperious autocrat but at least he’s our imperious autocrat. Plus la change….