Trump's turn for N.Y. presidential buzz

Even for New Yorkers who may aspire to lead the free world, life can change quickly.

Four years ago today, with an early presidential race under way, the Empire State had several residents in the mix, generating buzz.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was quoted on April 25, 2007, saying that with a Democrat's election, "we will wave the white flag on Iraq. We will cut back on the Patriot Act, electronic surveillance, interrogation and we will be back to our pre-Sept. 11 attitude of defense."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton -- backed for the White House by New York's entire Democratic Party establishment -- replied that then-President George Bush "failed to keep this country unified after 9/11 ."

Earlier that month, a Gallup poll showed Giuliani at 61 percent for the presidential nomination among Republican voters -- with former New York Gov. George Pataki sixth on the list at 6 percent.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- who later on would have his associates hype him as a possible "independent" candidate -- met on this day four years ago with former Vice President Al Gore -- and said afterward he hoped Gore would enter the 2008 race. "I think it would be good for the country," Bloomberg said.

Billionaire Donald Trump also made news that day -- telling People magazine what he thought of Rosie O'Donnell leaving "The View."

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Which brings us to today.

Clinton, now President Barack Obama's secretary of state, isn't a candidate. Giuliani's prospects are dimmed by his campaign's 2008 flameout. Pataki said he won't run. Bloomberg struggles now in his day job.

So despite -- or because of -- a public profile full of tabloid fame, hair talk, "birther" chimeras, bankruptcies, crafted tax strategies, famous edifices and his reality-show success, Trump is the only New York-rooted figure drawing a presidential spotlight.

"Do I think he's serious?" says a senior New York Republican strategist. "Right now there's no real campaign infrastructure. Should he decide to run, he would have to transition from a celebrity to a prospective leader. Right now, he has the ability to surprise people."

A dissenting take from a longtime Nassau activist: "After Bloomberg and [ex-New Jersey Gov.] Jon Corzine, we don't need another billionaire."