The Rev. Al Sharpton raised the astonishing possibility yesterday of not endorsing a candidate in the Democratic primary for mayor — an embarrass🌳ing diss to old pal Bill Thompson, the only black candidate in the race.
“I’m not ready yet,” Sharpton told The Post. “I haven’t really made up m🉐y mind.”
The primary is Tuesday — five days away.
Sharpton said he might w✃ait to make a decision after a run-off between the two top vote-getter🧸s.
While a stunning setback for Thompson, Sharpton’s neutrality would be a huge plus for surging front-run🤡ner Bill de Blasio, who is already cutting i♏nto Thompson’s base of black voters, according to multiple public polls.
Sharpton has known Thompson for decades and backed ꦕhis 2009 bid for mayor against incumbent Mike Bloomberg.
“I knew Mark Green for 30 yꦆears. I didn’t endorse him,” Sharpton said, attempting to explain his decision to shun Thompson.
“My backing wil𝐆l come based on issues, not familiari𝕴ty. I know everyone running right now.”
Sharpton said he’s been impressed🔯 with de Blasio and noted that the leadership of his National Action Network is split between Thompson and the public advocate.
“I have key people in both 🐓camps. I have people all over the place. I’m be🔯tween and betwixt,” said Sharpton.
He pointed out that the Rev. Michael Walfrond, pastor of Harlem’s First Corinthian Baptist Church and ministries direဣctor for NAN, back🦩s de Blasio, as does Manhattan chapter leader Theresa Freeman.
Thompson has strong support from leaders of NANꩵ chapters in the outer boroughs.
But there’s nothing that would prevent Sharpton from making a persona🐭l end👍orsement.
While remaining neutral, Sharpton talked up de Blasio’s campaign as the one that has “caught fire on issues that matter” toౠ liberal primary voters.
Among the issues where Sharpton said de Blasio excels are taxing the w🔯ealthy, curbing stop-and-frisk and addressing income inequality.
“The ‘Tale of Two Cities’ has affected the mainstream,” Sharpton said of de Bla൩sio’s mantra.
He also said de Blasio’s TV a🍨d featuring his teen-age son, Dante, has been the “most impactful” of the campaign.
“Dante has the most famous Afro in America,” Sharpton qui🦹p🐻ped, referring to de Blasio’s son’s frizzy halo of hair.
P🅺oliticians seek Sharpton’s endorsement because he is a gifted,꧅ media savvy orator who can energize a campaign. But he’s also a polarizing figure with baggage, and some campaign veterans said his influence is overblown.
After The Post interviewed Sharpton, Thompson appeared with him on his radio show, where the host remained on the en🦂dorsement sidelines.
As luck would have it, a cal🎶ler from The Bronx demanded to know why Sharpton was staying neutralꦅ.
“I’m not condemning anyo🃏ne. I ꦫmay well weigh in [at some point],” Sharpton said.
Thompson took full advantage of his appearance by again attacking de Blasio ♓as a”flip-flopper” on issues ranging from stop-and-frisk to term limits.
Additional reporting by Yoav Gonen and Sally Goldenberg