Lhota makes run for mayor official, launches new site and Twitter page

The former MTA chief took to Twitter on Thursday to make his mayoral bid official and rally support.

Joe Lhota created a new Twitter account "JoeLhota4mayor" and a website for his campaign. Lhota, a former deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani, said he looks forward to discussing his policies and ideas for the next four years

"I love this city -- I love its diversity and optimism, and the opportunity it represents," he wrote on his website.

As of press time, the city's Campaign Finance Board didn't have a listing for Lhota on its online database of 2013 candidates.

Lhota -- who resigned from his MTA position in December and will likely run on the Republican ticket -- thanked other GOP hopefuls, including billionaire John Catsimatidis and DOE Fund founder George McDonald on his main Twitter page.

Potential Democratic candidates include City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Comptroller John Liu and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

A poll released Wednesday found that Lhota leads the GOP candidates but would lose to Quinn, de Blasio and Thompson in a general election.