Speculation mounts over Bloomberg White House bid

[GaryC 7]

NEW YORK (AFP) - Speculation surged, again, that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg could launch an independent bid for the White House, just days ahead of the first nominating contests in the US presidential race.

The latest rumors were fueled by news that the billionaire businessman turned politician would attend a cross-party conference next week billed as a "bipartisan forum" to help end the current polarization in US politics.

Speculation built in mid-2007 that Bloomberg would run for president when he officially left the Republican party, amid reports that the founder of the Bloomberg media company was prepared to sink one billion dollars into his bid.

A run by the popular mayor would likely cause a major upset to what is usually a two-horse race between Democratic and Republican candidates.

Steven Brams, professor of politics at New York University, said he thought Bloomberg would only decide whether or not to run after the Iowa and New Hampshire party nomination contests that kick off this week.

"I think that if a front-runner emerges in the Democratic party, Bloomberg would worry his candidacy would take away votes from the Democrat. I certainly put him closer to the Democrats than I do to the Republicans," Brams said.

"But I think if the field's confused and crowded, as it may be, then I think there might be some feeling that Bloomberg could rise above," he told AFP.

Although Bloomberg was elected New York mayor as a Republican, he was previously a registered Democrat and is considered a liberal on social issues such as abortion, gay marriage and gun control.

The 65-year-old has repeatedly denied he is interested in running for president, saying he will serve out his mayoral term ending in late 2009, but his protests have done little to silence the media buzz.

Brams said that if Bloomberg did run, he would likely do better than Ross Perot, who in 1992 registered the highest independent showing -- with almost 20 million votes -- since Theodore Roosevelt ran as a breakaway candidate in 1912.

"I think a Bloomberg candidacy would be potentially a strong candidacy because he bridges gaps and I think many voters would accept that," Brams said, adding that "of course there's no question that he could finance his campaign."

A former Wall Street trader who founded the financial news service bearing his name, Bloomberg has an estimated fortune of 11.5 billion dollars, according to Forbes magazine, making him the 25th richest man in the United States.

He is believed to have spent more than 150 million dollars of his own money to get elected as New York mayor in 2001 and again in 2005.

He spent 2007 polishing his national as well as international credentials, spearheading the national coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, attending climate change talks in Bali and making a recent tour of China.

Brams said Bloomberg would be weighing up whether a run would likely result in a Republican win, in the same way that Green Party candidate Ralph Nader likely helped president George W. Bush beat Democrat Al Gore in 2000.

"I think he would hurt the Democratic nominee more than the Republicans," Brams said. "If he ran he would be a potential spoiler for the Democrats."

The cross-party forum that helped fuel the latest rumors is to be held at the University of Oklahoma and is being billed as helping to "end divisive partisan polarization, create bipartisanship, and bring the country together."

"Some of us might well be open to encouraging an independent candidacy if the two parties don't meet their responsibilities," the university's president and host of the panel discussion David Boren told the Newsday newspaper.

Billionaire and twice Republican presidential hopeful Stephen Forbes told CNN television he expected Bloomberg to run.

"He's itching to do it," Forbes said. "He's got the resources to wait until after February 5th, see who the two party nominees are. But unless something extraordinary happens, I expect him in the race."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/usvote2008bloomberg

[Nagishkaw 510]

Fort Marcy Park, here he comes!

[no name 1]

Too funny.

Bloomberg Wouldn't Win New York City

A series of SurveyUSA polls to measure the awareness of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and possible support for a third-party run for president find he's got an uphill battle ahead of him if he runs.

Across the country, one in four voters have never heard of Bloomberg and just 11% have a favorable impression of him. In an election for president today, if Bloomberg is on the ballot, he receives at most 13% of the vote. He also consistently finishes third of three candidates.

Even in the five boroughs of New York City, where Bloomberg is best known by voters know him best, he does not finish above 28% no matter who his Democratic or Republican opponents would be.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/01/..._york_city.html

[mawilson 2,133]

It would definitely be interesting, and ultimately good for America if he ran.

There's something rotten in the current two-party system, where both parties are

largely the same, both ignore the big issues while pandering to each side's

loudest supporters.

A guy like Bloomberg (for whom $1 billion is pocket change) could mount a sizeable

challenge against the system, and maybe steal some votes from GOP / Dems

in the process.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It would definitely be interesting, and ultimately good for America if he ran.

There's something rotten in the current two-party system, where both parties are

largely the same, both ignore the big issues while pandering to each side's

loudest supporters.

A guy like Bloomberg (for whom $1 billion is pocket change) could mount a sizeable

challenge against the system, and maybe steal some votes from GOP / Dems

in the process.

It would. The more the merrier.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It would definitely be interesting, and ultimately good for America if he ran.

There's something rotten in the current two-party system, where both parties are

largely the same, both ignore the big issues while pandering to each side's

loudest supporters.

A guy like Bloomberg (for whom $1 billion is pocket change) could mount a sizeable

challenge against the system, and maybe steal some votes from GOP / Dems

in the process.

I think there's a good chance that the Republican Party base will splinter. Conservative Christians will have a problem voting for Romney or Giuliani. Moderates will have a problem voting for Huckabee.

[no name 1]

It would definitely be interesting, and ultimately good for America if he ran.

There's something rotten in the current two-party system, where both parties are

largely the same, both ignore the big issues while pandering to each side's

loudest supporters.

A guy like Bloomberg (for whom $1 billion is pocket change) could mount a sizeable

challenge against the system, and maybe steal some votes from GOP / Dems

in the process.

I think there's a good chance that the Republican Party base will splinter. Conservative Christians will have a problem voting for Romney or Giuliani. Moderates Anyone but Bible bangers will have a problem voting for Huckabee.

[GaryC 7]

It would definitely be interesting, and ultimately good for America if he ran.

There's something rotten in the current two-party system, where both parties are

largely the same, both ignore the big issues while pandering to each side's

loudest supporters.

A guy like Bloomberg (for whom $1 billion is pocket change) could mount a sizeable

challenge against the system, and maybe steal some votes from GOP / Dems

in the process.

I think there's a good chance that the Republican Party base will splinter. Conservative Christians will have a problem voting for Romney or Giuliani. Moderates will have a problem voting for Huckabee.

The Rep base may splinter but not from voting for Bloomberg. He is about as much of a Rep as Ralph Nader. All a Bloomberg run will do is assure a Rep president.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It would definitely be interesting, and ultimately good for America if he ran.

There's something rotten in the current two-party system, where both parties are

largely the same, both ignore the big issues while pandering to each side's

loudest supporters.

A guy like Bloomberg (for whom $1 billion is pocket change) could mount a sizeable

challenge against the system, and maybe steal some votes from GOP / Dems

in the process.

I think there's a good chance that the Republican Party base will splinter. Conservative Christians will have a problem voting for Romney or Giuliani. Moderates will have a problem voting for Huckabee.

The Rep base may splinter but not from voting for Bloomberg. He is about as much of a Rep as Ralph Nader. All a Bloomberg run will do is assure a Rep president.

You're probably right. Especially if Hillary gets the Democratic nomination. Although, if Romney, for example, gets the Republican nomination, the evangelicals may put their own party candidate out there. It wouldn't be far fetched to see 4 prominent candidates running in the November election.

Edited January 17, 2008 by Mister Fancypants