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Updated 10/26/2009 01:01 PM

Churches Fill With Candidates' Sunday Stumping

By: Josh Robin

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his rival William Thompson canvased in churches Sunday as part of their intense mayoral campaigns.

Bloomberg went to Queens, where he received a polite welcome from a predominately African-American church and a more enthusiastic reception at a Hindu temple. In the second venue, the mayor was praised for his stances on immigration and education.

On Sunday, the mayor stressed the importance of voter turnout, after the Democratic primary in September showed record-low voting levels.

"It's sad, there are young men and women for 235 years who have been fighting and dying so that we have the right to vote, and yet you saw in the Democratic primary, especially in the runoff a very low turnout," said the Bloomberg. "I'd love to have them vote for me, but they should vote in any case. And in terms of worry, my job is to be out there and to try to run the city and to get my message out."

"People might take it for granted and say, 'Well, the mayor might win anyway.' We hope that people will exercise their franchise, because the right to vote is a very, very sacred right," said Dr. Dhanpaul Narine, a local Bloomberg supporter. "We're urging people to come out and exercise this right."

Thompson spent Sunday in the Bronx and met with clergy leaders. He also spoke with many of his union endorsers about drives to get people to vote.

Meanwhile, the mayor picked up another endorsement from a major city newspaper Sunday.

The New York Daily News says the city will be better off granting Bloomberg a third term.

The paper praises his efforts in reducing crime and improving schools, and on the issue of term limits says, "Bloomberg was right... because the extension has given November's voters greater choice."

The paper endorsement goes on to say, "New York is beset by unprecedented economic ills that will force the next occupant of City Hall to do more with far less. Bottom line: Stick with what's worked."

The New York Times and the New York Post have also endorsed the mayor.

The Amsterdam News and the Spanish-language El Diario have thrown their support behind Thompson.