City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has hired a weighty political consultant ahead of the 2013 mayoral race.
The New York Times reports Quinn hired Joel Benenson, a pollster for President Barack Obama who has also worked for Anthony Weiner.
Benenson has ties to many Democrats who have clashed with Bloomberg. Quinn has close ties to the Republican-turned-independent mayor.
Benenson downplayed Quinn's relationship with the mayor in an interview with the Times.
"Every election stands on its own," he said.
Quinn is among several Democrats likely to run for City Hall. Those include Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Comptroller John Liu and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
