De Blasio urges leftward tilt by White House-seeking Democrats

WASHINGTON -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Wednesday said likely presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton or whoever becomes the Democratic candidate in 2016 should run to the left by addressing income inequality to motivate the party's voters.

"I think there is a lot of room for a Democrat to speak to these issues," de Blasio said. "I think it could well be Secretary Clinton. But one way or another the Democrats have to speak to these issues."

De Blasio came to Washington to tout his progressive agenda and warn against repeating the mistakes Democrats made in losing so many seats in the recent midterm elections.

In an interview with Politico's Mike Allen here at a morning event, de Blasio spoke about Clinton, but he also praised her potential rival on the left, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), as an "indispensable" voice. De Blasio warned that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a possible GOP presidential hopeful whose policies he rejects, has vote appeal because he comes off as "authentic."

The mayor also defended having the Rev. Al Sharpton act as an adviser, agreed with the decision of his wife's chief of staff to go on leave and dismissed a poll that suggested New York voters' views of him are racially polarized.

And he said he hadn't smoked pot since college, and he promised he would try to be a "better person" by arriving at events on time.

Pressed by Allen about whether Clinton would move to satisfy the party's liberal wing by taking on economic inequality, de Blasio said, "I'm hopeful. Look, I think she should. I think it's necessary."

De Blasio, who managed Clinton's 2000 U.S. Senate campaign in New York, added, "I think a lot about her history and origins suggest it's natural for her."

He said that when he helped her presidential bid in Ohio in March 2008, he saw her speak to "core economic issues very powerfully."

But de Blasio said he is not an adviser to Clinton, and he resisted talking about her as a candidate because she has not declared she's running.

He advised the Democratic candidate in general to "speak to income inequality" and "challenge the status quo" and "wealthy and powerful interests," while tying that message to a grassroots strategy.

He blamed Democrats' losses this month on too many candidates moving to the middle and failing to inspire and motivate voters.

On New York issues, de Blasio stood by Sharpton as an adviser and friend when Allen asked about a poll showing one-third of those surveyed said he relied on Sharpton too much.

He said he asks Sharpton for advice, but "that's it. I'll make my own choices."

De Blasio also defended Rachel Noerdlinger, his wife's chief of staff, calling her mistakes "minor."

He said he accepted her reasons for taking a leave of absence. "She decided to tend to family matters, and I think that was the right thing to do," he said.

In the afternoon, de Blasio talked about governing New York City at the Center for American Progress, which held a daylong conference for progressive Democrats.