New York Mayor Bloomberg narrowly wins third term

By Ellen Wulfhorst

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who engineered a change in the city's term-limits law so he could run again and set a record for financing his campaign, narrowly won a third term on Tuesday, local media declared.

Bloomberg defeated City Comptroller Bill Thompson, a Democrat, according to The New York Times, the Daily News and NY1 television.

With 96 percent of the votes counted, Bloomberg was ahead 51 to 46 percent.

His margin was far smaller than expected, given polls that showed him as recently as Monday with a double-digit lead and expectations of a large, lopsided victory.

Bloomberg vastly outspent his challenger, laying out $13 for every $1 spent by Thompson. Bloomberg is described by Forbes magazine as the richest man in New York, with a $16 billion fortune.

He has spent almost $90 million on his re-election bid and is on track to spend an estimated $110 million to $140 million overall. Thompson spent $7 million.

Some political observers said New York voters may have been soured by Bloomberg's success in getting the city's term-limits law amended on his behalf. Others said Bloomberg supporters may have been lulled by his strong polling numbers and did not turn out in large numbers at the polls.

Official numbers were not yet calculated but turnout appeared low. Some 4.2 million New Yorkers are registered voters.