Lawyer Bruce Blakeman, who is a member of the Port Authority Board of Commissioners, has announced that he won't run for mayor this year against Michael Bloomberg. Blakeman, who had previously announced his Republican candidacy, issued a statement today:

I believe there is no one better qualified to see New York through these tough times than Michael Bloomberg. I have always maintained that, based on his record of achievement, his commitment to the people who live here, and his fierce protection of New York’s quality of life, I would never stand to oppose him. With his decision to seek reelection my decision to withdraw from this contest was an easy one.

Man, these have been a rough couple of years for Blakeman — not only did Bloomberg crush his mayoral ambitions in late 2008, in late 2007 his wife, Nancy Shevell, left him for ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. Ouch.