"If he has a calling and wants to be mayor, he becomes immediately a formidable candidate," City Councilman James Oddo said.
Oddo's not endorsing Kelly yet, but he knows a lot of Republicans would love to see the police commissioner in the race.
"I have never had any conversations about Ray every running for office. I think Ray Kelly has done a phenomenal job for the City," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
Right now the race is heavy on liberal democrats. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Bill Thompson (who ran for mayor the last time) and City Council Speaker Chris Quinn.
In downtown Brooklyn, Kelly has a lot of fans, but mixed reaction to a bid for mayor.
"I have very good impression about him," Miron Berenshteyn said, expressing support for a run.
"He's doing his job. Crime is down," Carl Williams said, but he didn't think that Kelly should run for mayor.
Despite his crime-fighting record, Kelly could have a tough time with some minority voters troubled by the department's stop and frisk policy.
"I really do not care for him. There's just something about him you know," Marilyn Broady said.
After years of Giuliani and Bloomberg, many New Yorkers would like to see a conservative pro-business attitude live on in a Mayor Ray Kelly. But for those voters right now, it may just be wishful thinking.
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