In a speech before a prominent civic group, Mr. de Blasio, the Democratic nominee for mayor, denounced giveaways to the real estate industry, pledged to re-energize labor unions and declared that the city's "affordability crisis" was as urgent and serious a problem as the turmoil faced after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"We cannot expect prosperity to trickle down from the top," he said during the speech in Midtown Manhattan, adding, "We cannot resign ourselves to the mind-set that says rising inequality is a necessary byproduct of urban success."
He was met with a standing ovation from an overflow crowd of wealthy business leaders — the same group that a year ago had responded to a similar speech by Mr. de Blasio with chilly disregard.
It was the surest sign yet of a thaw in the relationship between Mr. de Blasio, the fiery campaigner who took direct aim at the wealth of the Bloomberg years, and the business elite, who had viewed him warily until he secured the Democratic nomination just weeks ago.
Now, détente is in the air. In a whirlwind tour this week, Mr. de Blasio sat down with leaders in finance, real estate and technology — including Lloyd C. Blankfein and Philippe P. Dauman, the chief executives of Goldman Sachs and Viacom — to tell them face to face that his brand of liberalism is unapologetic but pragmatic, and can accommodate the value of business in a global city.
In meetings, Mr. de Blasio has not minced words, telling corporate leaders that he is a "Democrat with a capital 'D' " and acknowledging that he subscribes to a deeply felt, left-leaning ideology. But the message, attendees say, has been clear: "We may not agree, but we want to work together."
It is a fine line to walk for Mr. de Blasio, a proud liberal firebrand who is nonetheless aware that he must woo audiences far from his base as he starts to ponder how to govern a complex city.
Even as he outlined proposals on Friday for raising the wages of low-paid workers, Mr. de Blasio took pains to offer repeated, if qualified, praise for some of the economic development policies of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, whom he had largely denounced during his primary campaign.
At one point, Mr. de Blasio, currently the city's public advocate, went as far as to describe himself as a "fiscal conservative," saying he would be focused on keeping a balanced budget — which is required by law — as he tries to negotiate new contracts with municipal unions and to expand social services.
Mr. de Blasio's self-description rankled his Republican opponent, Joseph J. Lhota, a former city budget chief whose campaign immediately issued a statement calling the assertion "delusional."
"He'll say anything to anyone to get elected," said Mr. Lhota's spokeswoman, Jessica Proud, who added that Mr. de Blasio's commitment to raise taxes on the wealthy, and his record as a liberal councilman, contradicted any claims to conservatism.
Fiscal hawk or not, Mr. de Blasio has a formidable lead over Mr. Lhota in recent polls, and many members of the business world are letting their previous skepticism give way to a pragmatic sense of "work with what you've got."
"There's an old Irish expression: A new broom sweeps clean," William T. Cunningham, a former communications director for Mr. Bloomberg, said as the attendees filed out after Mr. de Blasio's speech.
"This room was filled with old brooms," Mr. Cunningham said, referring to the audience. "They know the corners, and they're trying to figure out what corners they can play in the next administration."
Industry leaders are now lining up for time with Mr. de Blasio; weeks after dismissing the Democrat as a long shot, some are even boasting to friends about their ties to the man who could be New York's next mayor.
David W. Chen contributed reporting.
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