January 31, 2013
Rumor Control: Mayor Cory Booker on Running for President and Dating Gayle King
The Mayor of Newark, Cory Booker, sat down for a rare one-on-one interview with “Extra’s” AJ Calloway to discuss his political aspirations and rumored romances.
Mayor Booker, known to be a political rock star with a strong future in politics, was also recently named one of Town and Country Magazine’s Top 50 Bachelors. He’s also been linked to Oprah Winfrey’s BFF, Gayle King.
He explained his relationship with King, saying, “I wish there was a different word than friend [to describe our relationship] because she's really one of the best things that's happened to me. On my lowest days, she's the one that picks me up and calls me, checks in on me, she's been an incredible friend -- that's it.”
When it comes to politics, Booker said he is not looking to launch a presidential run. “It's kind of ridiculous to even have that as an ambition because… you forget to work on where you are now.”
The Mayor went on to reveal he is happy with what he has. “The definition of success is always being true to your purpose… not position… but to your purpose and to your passions, and I feel blessed that for the next 18 months at least I have the job of my dreams."
Next up for Booker could be a senate race. “There's a race for senate in 2014, more than a year away, we had to file [papers] that are sort of a legal necessity and we're going to spend the next year exploring that. But, frankly I still have a year and a half left on my term as mayor."
There has been speculation that the Mayor may also run for governor against Chris Christie. Booker shed some light on their relationship. “The Governor and I have so many things we disagree on, but what he and I did in a manner I'll describe as honorable, is we came together and said let's find the points where we do agree and work really hard together on those points.”
As far as his nickname, “Mayor Handsome,” Booker joked, “Don’t believe it!”
He added that a line from Public Enemy always brings him back to reality… “Don’t believe the hype. “If I believe the good stuff they write about me, I have to believe the bad stuff they write about me,” he explained.
Tomorrow on “Extra,” Mayor Booker weighs in on President Obama.
