Anthony Weiner announces run for New York mayor, surprising no one

Once-disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner has made it official: he’s running to be the next mayor of New York City.

Weiner made the announcement early Wednesday, through a video uploaded to the new AnthonyWeiner4Mayor YouTube channel, in which he says:

“Look, I know I made some big mistakes and I let a lot of people down. But I’ve also learned some tough lessons. I’m running for mayor because I’ve been fighting for the middle class, and those struggling to make it, my entire life.”

The attempt to return to public office comes after Weiner was caught sending pictures of his crotch to a college-aged woman (who was not his wife) over Twitter. (He thought it was a direct message. It wasn’t.)

Weiner was forced to give up his seat in Congress amid the scandal. It also caused many a headline pun for the unfortunately named Weiner.

Weiner’s decision to run for mayor is hardly surprising. Weiner has slowly mounted a comeback into public life. He made the media rounds in a series of television interviews and apologies, he released a policy paper on New York called “Keys to the City” and he even rejoined Twitter in April.

Of course, Weiner can’t entirely escape the past as he tries to forge a new beginning. Some headline puns are already posted, with the tabloid New York Daily News kicking things off with the announcement: “WEINER’S ALL IN! Disgraced politician officially thrusts his way into NYC mayoral race following weeks of speculation.”

Here’s Weiner’s Youtube announcement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x92OWufIWcU&feature=player_embedded