New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democratic candidate for president, seems sick of his city – and the feeling is mutual, The New York Times is reporting.

The newspaper noted that historically those running for president have played off of popularity at home to build a national profile. Instead, de Blasio hopes a national audience will be less hostile to him than much of his own city, according to the newspaper.

He has battled press coverage of his tenure as mayor.

"You don't understand, they hate me," he told a staff member about reporters, according to the Times.

And Letitia James, the state attorney general and a once-close ally, asked: "What is the legacy? What are you running on?"

When actress Cynthia Nixon challenged Gov. Andrew Cuomo, her campaign gave some thought to courting de Blasio's support. But an internal survey reveals it would not have helped her and it was dropped, the newspaper said.

Former Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said he has never met a politician more isolated than de Blasio. And said he does not know one "person that's his buddy – nobody."

Meanwhile, protesters from the police union and public housing advocates have traveled to confront de Blasio during his presidential campaign.

The Times noted he bumped into George Arzt, a longtime aide to former Mayor Ed Koch last year.

"Ed would have been proud of the job I'm doing," the mayor said.

But Arzt told the Times: "These guys get deluded. They really believe that they are doing well."