The ever-colorful former NYC Mayor Ed Koch stopped by the “Capital Tonight” studio this morning to kick off what will be a full day of stumping for his push to reform Albany through creation of an independent redistricting commission.

Koch, who was joined by one of his fellow New York Uprising founders, Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey, had some more harsh words in response to Senate President Malcolm Smith’s remarks over the weekend that the Senate Dems plan to redistrict their GOP colleagues into “oblivion” for the next 20 years.

When I noted that Koch had predicted Smith would come to regret those words and asked if that means the PAC will be targeting the Queens Democrat this fall, the former mayor responded:

“I said more than that. I said he was a dope to have said what he said. I know Malcolm. I like him. In fact, he worked, when I was mayor, as an intern in City Hall.”

“But to make such a statement proving our point that what they are doing is using the process of government, not for good government, but to be able to remain, and feed at the public expense.”

“They like to be re-elected and elected time after time, and not do anything to earn their pay. And what he said will stick with him forever. It will be in his political obituary.”

Koch is scheduled to testify today before the Senate Investigations Committee on a bill sponsored by Sen. Dave Valesky and Assemblyman Mike Gianaris that would end politically-controlled gerrymandering. My full interview with Koch and Dadey will air on “Capital Tonight” this evening at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

UPDATE: Koch met with Smith today, and the meeting was reportedly cordial. He was also scheduled to meet with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who isn’t thrilled by the former mayor’s new reform efforts. No word yet on how that get-together went.

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