THIS IS A DEPRESSING RACE FOR MAYOR, NOT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF SEXTING

Here's National Journal reporting on a new poll of the New York mayor's race:

A new Quinnipiac University poll of likely Democratic primary voters in New York City's mayoral election (and sideshow), conducted mostly before the latest revelations about Anthony Weiner's online behavior, shows Weiner still slightly ahead in the September 11 primary. But if Weiner slips out of the top two candidates -- or drops out of the race entirely -- former Comptroller Bill Thompson is in the driver's seat to capture his party's nomination once again.

Weiner led the primary in the poll, which was conducted July 18-23, with the support of 26 percent of likely voters. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was second, with 22 percent, while Thompson, the 2009 Democratic nominee, was third with 20 percent....

But ... if Weiner is damaged or withdraws from the race, Thompson is the new favorite. Weiner supporters were asked for their second choice, and with those allocated, Quinn holds a slight lead over Thompson, 30 percent to 26 percent, with de Blasio at 21 percent.

If no candidate can cross the 40-percent threshold, it would trigger an Oct. 1 runoff. And in a runoff between Thompson and Quinn, Thompson holds a clear lead, 51 percent to 42 percent....

And on the Republican side (which matters, given the fact that Democrats have lost the last five New York mayor's races):

In a very small sample of likely Republican primary voters, former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Joseph Lhota gets 49 percent, with 35 percent for businessman John Catsimatidis and 7 percent for George McDonald.

So it's likely to be Thompson, Quinn, or Weiner vs. Joe Lhota. Now, let's sum up:

* Quinn is Mike Bloomberg's poodle.
* Thompson would be the poodle of top fund-raiser Al D'Amato.
* Lhota is Rudy Giuliani's poodle.
* And Weiner seems to be the subservient to the little man in his pants.

This is not encouraging.