There was an abrupt about-face today from one of the leading candidates for mayor, over policing and public safety. As the race has heated up, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn�s support for Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has cooled off.

For voters, one politician�s flip-flop may be another�s badly needed course correction, so as Democratic candidates for mayor jostle for primary votes come September, the potentially radioactive issue of the city�s stop-and-frisk program and the future of its chief champion have one of the leading contenders for City Hall changing course.

�If I�m mayor, Ray Kelly will be offered that job with the clear charge you get stop and frisks down. You do that constitutionally. If you can�t agree to that don�t take the job. If you take it and you don�t do it, you�ll get fired,� Quinn said.

What a difference a couple of weeks make. Here�s what Quinn said about Kelly just 16 days ago.

�Whoever the next mayor is would be lucky if he stayed on and I would absolutely make that offer,� Quinn said.

(Source: WCBSTV)