The Asian-American politician's rise shows minorities' increasing political clout.

For Democrat John Liu, winning the September 29 runoff for New York City Comptroller is only a starting point. It is clear that Liu, the first Asian to make a bid for top political office in New York City, has higher aspirations – now, running for mayor is no longer a distant possibility.

Liu's bid for comptroller has sparked a wave of voter enthusiasm, showing the growing power of minorities in politics. With voter participation in primaries at an all-time low, political analysts were shocked to see more than 22,000 voters turn out for the Democratic runoff, roughly 30 percent more than forecast.

Predictions about Liu's long-term political goals may seem premature, but a quick survey of the past 50 years of New York City politics shows that nearly every comptroller has gone on to run for mayor. As trillionaire Michael Bloomberg's hold on this November's race seems secure, the next opening for a mayoral challenger would be in 2013.

Though he has faced his share of difficulties in this race, and though he still has a general election ahead of him, Liu has lived up to expectations in his first bid for city-wide office. Over a short eight years, Liu has gone from political outsider to powerhouse, quietly amassing financial and human resources. In addition, Liu has blazed a new path by rallying third-party and non-affiliated voters, rather than relying completely on the Democratic apparatus, a tactic which has shown his natural aptitude for politics.

If through four years of brave and responsible leadership as comptroller Liu manages to help New York City wade out of financial crisis, his reputation will have more to rest on than his ability to rally minority voters. However, if Liu does not seize the opportunity four years down the line, he will be near 60 by the time the next opportunity arises. Regardless of the issue of age, the next four years will be a crucial window for Liu to maintain the spotlight and prepare for the next step.

As to what that step will be, that will be determined by the wishes of the voters, Liu told Sing Tao Daily. Could it be running for mayor? "Of course, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of running for higher office. Why rule anything out?" Liu said.