On Tuesday, March 2, Rupert Murdoch once again used a public platform to voice his support for a Senate run by a man he more commonly regards as a rival, Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman.
“In this crucial time in our history, we need people in Washington who truly understand what makes our business tick,” Mr. Murdoch told a crowd packed at more than 60 tables in the second-floor ballroom of the Seventh Avenue Sheraton. “You might have never thought you’d hear me say this about a rival publisher, but I believe Mort Zuckerman could improve that Senate race just by his entry.”
The crowd, arguably like much of the Post‘s audience, was mostly male. Mostly white. Mostly rich. Mostly picking at the chicken and rice pilaf sitting before them.
Mr. Murdoch was the real main course. And he proved delicious.
Following his remarks, a middle-aged woman stood up and asked about a report she’d heard earlier that day on Bloomberg radio that speculated The Times might be for sale, and whether he’d be interested in buying it.
“I think the [Sulzberger] family treats it as a great heritage,” responded Mr. Murdoch. “As long as they possibly can, there’s no chance of it being sold, least of all to a Mexican.”
(He was referring to Times investor Carlos Slim.) The room broke into raucous laughter.
Mr. Murdoch tried to clarify: “I didn’t mean that racially.”
He also discussed his latest venture: a full-color, “feisty” section in The Wall Street Journal devoted to New York City. “I will cover everything that makes New York great-state politics, local politics, business, health care and sports. Oh yes, and real estate.”
