Marty Markowitz for mayor? Not so fast.

The Brooklyn borough president, who for months has kept voters in the dark about his political ambitions, has raised just $935,116 compared to the two front-runners, who have raised more than three times as much.

“I can assure you, my decision will be reflected in the fund-raising,” Markowitz told the Brooklyn News, acknowledging his fund-raising has dramatically slowed. “This is the most serious decision in my life, and I can’t underscore that enough,” Markowitz added.

Political experts say fund-raising is often the early indicator of a candidate’s strength – and on that score, Markowitz is clearly way behind.

While potential mayoral opponents Rep. Anthony Weiner and Council Speaker Christine Quinn have each raised more than $3 million, Markowitz has added just $34,818 to his coffers since January, according to campaign finance filings released last week.

Markowitz has already spent $408,856 – or nearly half his dough – on such expenses as election lawyers, telephone bills and political consultants, a sign he’s leaving the mayoral door open.

“Do I have what it takes to be the best mayor? That’s me, my inner searching,” said a candid Markowitz.

“I know that I would be an excellent mayor – I know that – but the question is would I do better than Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani before him, Ed Koch? That’s the bar. That’s where I’m at now. I’m making that decision.”

Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said Markowitz “has the ability to raise the money. What is clear is he hasn’t decided what he intends to do [and] didn’t put his full heart into it.”

Meanwhile, the race to succeed Markowitz at Borough Hall has put Park Slope Councilman Bill de Blasio far ahead of the pack in fund-raising. De Blasio has raised $608,820, five times as much as his closest opponent in the crowded field of candidates vying to replace Markowitz.

The boroughwide race also includes East New York Councilman Charles Barron and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham.

Graham raised $105,000, while Barron tallied just $1,290, according to the filings.

“It’s so much more important in this kind of race to build a grass-roots following, and so we really invested early in building that,” said de Blasio, who has already spent $228,000 of his campaign cash.

Source: NY Daily News