Brooklyn Republicans put aside their misgivings about Mayor Bloomberg’s party loyalty Wednesday night and agreed to support him in their primary election, raising the likelihood the mayor can run again on the GOP line.

“The resounding response was that we have to take our Republican hats off and put on our citizen hats,” Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton said after the executive committee’s 36-to-9 vote in Bloomberg’s favor, with one abstention. “It’s not time for a mayor in training.”

The move came a week after Bloomberg asked the five county leaders to let him back on the ballot, after he declared himself an independent in 2007.

Bloomberg now needs the support of two other party chairmen to win the Republican line, which gives a better ballot position than running as an independent.

“We’re grateful for such a strong showing of support,” Bloomberg campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said.

Source: NY Daily News