A New York City politician who was once the state Senate's highest ranking Democrat is thinking about running for mayor — as a Republican. WAMC's Dave Lucas has details.
Former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith told New York City media that he is "exploring the possibility" of a run on the GOP line.
The Democrat represents a liberal section of Queens. But his views on some issues put him slightly to the right of some other Democratic candidates.
Smith became majority leader in 2009 after the Democrats gained control of the chamber for the first time in a half-century.
But his tenure was punctuated by political chaos and gridlock and he was deposed in a political coup after just six months.
He has had a lower profile in the Senate since then.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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