NYC mayor, Dem opponent tussle over education

    NEW YORK (AP) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has leveled a rare attack on the Democrat aiming to unseat him, comparing their records on education.
    At his regular news conference Tuesday - not a campaign event - Bloomberg was asked about Thompson’s education plan.
    The billionaire mayor said he hadn’t seen it, but said that the issue for voters is clear. He says if voters think city schools are better today than under City Comptroller William Thompson Jr.‘s leadership at the Board of Education, they should vote for him.
    Thompson was a school board member in 1995 and 1996 and then president for five years.
    Asked about the comment, Thompson tried to downplay the importance of education in the race, calling it just one issue. He didn’t respond directly to the mayor’s criticism.
   
    (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)