Eight days before Election Day, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the city’s leading Democrat, has endorsed William Thompson for mayor.

Quinn, a longtime backer of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has been criticized by some for delaying an endorsement for her fellow Democrat. She said she called Thompson and told him he had her support.

Bloomberg also picked up a major endorsement today. Crain’s New York Business threw its support behind the incumbent, saying Thompson, the city comptroller, has not offered any compelling alternative vision for the city.

The endorsements come the same day a new poll shows Bloomberg could be headed for a blowout.

The Quinnipiac University poll released today shows Bloomberg holding an 18 percentage point lead over his challenger.

Of those surveyed, 53 percent said they would vote for the mayor compared to 35 for Thompson; 10 percent remain undecided.

The poll shows the mayor ahead among voters in all five boroughs, among men and women, and with a clear majority among Republicans and Independents.

Bloomberg and Thompson are split at 46 percent among Democrats.

The poll surveyed more than a thousand likely voters over the weekend, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Source: NY1