NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to spend more than $10 million in the final weeks before Election Day to promote moderate candidates around the country.

Bloomberg announced the plan Wednesday. Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, is taking a leave of absence from City Hall to head up the effort. Wolfson is a political veteran who worked on then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008,

The mayor says the effort is meant to help elect moderates and independents ‘‘who are willing to work across party lines to achieve real results.’’

The billionaire mayor will pay for ads supporting candidates who agree with him on issues such as gun violence, education reform and gay marriage.

Bloomberg is a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent.