Bill de Blasio's presidential campaign could backfire — and leave him jobless

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio added his name to the already crowded field of Democrats vying for their party's presidential nomination and a chance to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020 last week.

But if De Blasio is not careful, his presidential aspirations could leave him jobless altogether.

What are the details?

According to the New York Post, a "never-before-used clause in the city charter" could force De Blasio out of office if he neglects his mayoral duties while on the campaign trail.

The city's "committee on mayoral inability" — a five-member body of elected officials — could declare De Blasio "temporarily unable to discharge the powers and duties," effectively removing him from office, if he abandons the Big Apple on the path to the White House.

The Post explains:

Comptroller Scott Stringer — who has publicly worried about the mayor's distraction — is a member, along with City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the longest-serving of the city's five beeps.The committee would also include two mayoral appointees, Corporation Counsel Zachary Carter and a deputy mayor to be named later, by de Blasio himself.

Four votes would set the process in motion — but a two-thirds vote of the City Council would be needed to take power from de Blasio's hands.

The city charter explains that mayoral succession was designed for instances where the city's mayor is removed by the governor or times when the mayor is too sick to perform his duties, but leaves open the possibility for "other" reasons, including when the mayor is absent from the city.

However, former New York City Major Rudy Giuliani, who now works as a personal attorney to President Donald Trump, said De Blasio will not be missed in the city — whether he's there or not.

"He doesn't do anything, anyway," Giuliani told The Post. "The city runs itself. He won't be missed. The reason he'll be able to run for President as mayor is because he doesn't do the job as mayor to begin with. I can't think of a thing he accomplished."

(H/T: Hot Air)