De Blasio's Iowa presidential forum is canceled

A left-leaning coalition founded by Mayor Bill de Blasio has canceled a planned presidential forum in Iowa on income equality next month, the group announced Tuesday.

No candidate had agreed to attend the Dec. 6 forum of the The Progressive Agenda Committee in Iowa City, at which de Blasio wanted White House hopefuls of both parties to present ideas to close the gap between rich and poor. Majorities of New York voters thought de Blasio's forum plan was a bad idea and have seen his national political barnstorming as a distraction from his job, according to recent Quinnipiac and Marist polls.

De Blasio, a Democrat, had dodged a question Tuesday afternoon in an interview with cable news station NY1 about whether he would personally attend the forum. About 90 minutes later, the committee emailed a statement saying the forum was off.

"TPAC will not be holding a presidential forum, and will refocus its action on new plans that channel the voices of everyday people to impact candidates, leaders, and elected officials at every level of government," de Blasio's group said.

Late last month, de Blasio endorsed the White House bid of Hillary Rodham Clinton, his former boss, after more than six months of remaining uncommitted.

"He'd be hard-pressed to run a forum in which you've already endorsed a candidate. What's the incentive for the other candidates to show up?" said Iona College political scientist Jeanne Zaino. "His endorsement kind of put an end to the idea that this forum would be well attended or productive in any sense of the word."

The group announced its plans in April at Gracie Mansion with much fanfare. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and author Toni Morrison were among the attendees.

"There are very few leaders in this country," environmental activist Van Jones said of de Blasio, "that have the stature to call the kind of meeting this man called."

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.