12:55 PM
The independent mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, has just endorsed President Barack Obama.
Bloomberg opened the piece by saying his choice was affected by the effect Super Storm Sandy had on New York City. The country, he said, needs a leader who will tackle those issues.
In the past, he writes in an editorial for Bloomberg View, he may have well voted for Mitt Romney, who singed on to a cap-and-trade program in Massachusetts. But the Romney of today changed his position on that and other issues.
Bloomberg continues:
"When I step into the voting booth, I think about the world I want to leave my two daughters, and the values that are required to guide us there. The two parties' nominees for president offer different visions of where they want to lead America.
"One believes a woman's right to choose should be protected for future generations; one does not. That difference, given the likelihood of Supreme Court vacancies, weighs heavily on my decision.
"One recognizes marriage equality as consistent with America's march of freedom; one does not. I want our president to be on the right side of history.
"One sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not. I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics."
The endorsement comes after Bloomberg Businessweek ran a cover with the headline "It's Global Warming, Stupid."
