An adviser for a New York mayoral hopeful didn't properly end a call to a reporter's voicemail, allowing a subsequent strategy conversation to be recorded.

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The call to a New York Times reporter by local political power broker Roberto Ramirez revealed that he and two other men in the conversation believed their candidate -- Fernando Ferrer -- would have little trouble getting past a Democratic Party primary in September. That primary winner would face Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who switched from the Democratic to Republican Party four years ago, as he seeks re-election later this year.

Bloomberg is a billionaire businessman -- he spent some $75 million to win election in 2001 -- and his ability to finance his own campaign was a concern to the Ferrer supporters, the Times reported.

The supporters discussed plans for a nationwide fundraising effort since New York caps campaign donations at $4,950 per donor. They talked of using a ploy of warning Democrats not to allow Republicans to claim a foothold in the northeast with Bloomberg's re-election.

Ramirez would not comment to the Times regarding the call or identify the two other people heard on the conversation.