Source: Bloomberg To Wait Till March To Decide

[exopolitician]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will decide by early March whether he will pursue an independent bid for the White House, a source close to the mayor told CNN.


Michael Bloomberg is researching an independent presidential run, a source says.

 The source, who is very familiar with the mayor's deliberations, said Bloomberg is assessing his chances in a potential bid for the presidency.

The source said the mayor -- who has been widely speculated as being interested in running for the White House as an independent -- has had data collected but hasn't started to analyze it yet.

CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said it's possible a centrist candidate would have a chance in the 2008 presidential race.

"There's a market for someone who can bring the left and the right together, Democrats and Republicans, and form a workable governing coalition," Schneider said, "but it's going to be there only if the parties nominate candidates who can't reach to the center." Watch Schneider explain how Bloomberg could shake up the race »

Schneidner said it made sense for Bloomberg to wait until "Super Tuesday," February 5, when nearly a dozen states will hold either primaries or caucuses. The nominees for both parties will probably be clear after those results, political pundits say.

"If the Democrats nominate Barack Obama, who has a lot of appeal to Republicans, and the Republicans nominate, say, John McCain, who in the past has appealed for Democrats, there's no room for Bloomberg, and he probably should hang it up," he said.

A Newsweek poll conducted October 31-November 1 placed support for Bloomberg at 11 percent when matched up in a general election with Sen. Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, who received the support of 44 percent, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the Republican nominee, who received 38 percent.

When Obama was the Democratic nominee, the results changed little, with Bloomberg at 10 percent, Barack Obama at 43 percent and Giuliani at 39 percent.

Bloomberg, a former Democrat who was elected to the mayor's office as a Republican, joined a panel of moderate current and former lawmakers earlier this week at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

The group, made up of Democrats and Republicans, called for bipartisanship in government.

"What has changed is that people have stopped working together," Bloomberg said at the Monday gathering. "Government is dysfunctional. There is no collaboration and congeniality. There is no working together and 'Let's do what's right for the country.' There is no accountability today ... no willingness to focus on big ideas."


Bloomberg, 65, was elected mayor of New York in 2001, two months after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, and re-elected in 2005.

A native of Medford, Massachusetts, with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Bloomberg became a billionaire, first working with Wall Street securities bank Salomon Brothers, then as founder of Bloomberg LP, a financial news and information service.

[MODU]

I wonder if the appeal of Bloomberg (both by Republicans and Democrats) will mirror that of Thompson.  Once (if) he gets in, all support drops out for him.

[Sam Spade]

I wonder if the appeal of Bloomberg (both by Republicans and Democrats) will mirror that of Thompson.  Once (if) he gets in, all support drops out for him.

He certainly has similar charisma to Thompson and his voice (the Boston nasal thing) will be as annoying to Southerners as I'm sure Thompson is to Northerners.

Maybe he has enough money to change things.  Of course, that didn't help Romney.

Whichever, if he announces, look at his support after the announcement because that will probably be the peak amount of support he can expect in a general election.  (Indys usually decline in support as the election goes on)

[Erc]

If McCain's the nominee, Bloomberg would get very little support from Republicans (except among the vehemently anti-war crowd, perhaps).

If it's Huckabee v. Clinton, though...

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I don't believe for a second he's serious about running.

[exopolitician]

It wouldnt make much sense though if he built up so much media hype about it...then decided in March that he wont run. Thats silly on his part...but honestly Id probably consider voting for him if he did run.

[The Duke]

I'm in ur elekshun
stealin ur independentz

[YRABNNRM]

It's a shame he's such a nanny-stater.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

If McCain's the nominee, Bloomberg would get very little support from Republicans (except among the vehemently anti-war crowd, perhaps).

If it's Huckabee v. Clinton, though...

Isn't it unlikely for him to run if McCain (or Obama) are nominated though. Probably one of the reasons he'd wait until March to make a decision.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How's he a nanny-stater other than tobacco and trans fats? (Two issues where it doesn't really bother me)

[YRABNNRM]

How's he a nanny-stater other than tobacco and trans fats? (Two issues where it doesn't really bother me)

Those two things are enough for me.

Not so much trans-fats though, I suppose, but still.

[MarkWarner08]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I only see Bloomberg running if it's a Romney/Huckabee v. Clinton campaign. If Rudy or McCain run, then he has no shot.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fires than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

ZOMFG!!!!1111 LIBERAL COMMUNIST TO THE MAXORZ!!!! VOTE RON PAUL 08!!!111

[YRABNNRM]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

[MarkWarner08]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

[YRABNNRM]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

[MarkWarner08]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

[YRABNNRM]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

If you went into NYC often you probably wouldn't be warming up to the idea so quickly.

[MarkWarner08]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

If you went into NYC often you probably wouldn't be warming up to the idea so quickly.

I admire his innovative approaches to climate change, poverty, and traffic. While I agree that his smoking and trans-fat bans were nanny-statish, I believe that his views on issues like affordable housing would help trigger an important national debate on these largely ignored problems. For instance, his plan to incentivize vaccinations has already been tried in Mexico City, with great results. 

[Sam Spade]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

If you went into NYC often you probably wouldn't be warming up to the idea so quickly.

I admire his innovative approaches to climate change, poverty, and traffic. While I agree that his smoking and trans-fat bans were nanny-statish, I believe that his views on issues like affordable housing would help trigger an important national debate on these largely ignored problems. For instance, his plan to incentivize vaccinations has already been tried in Mexico City, with great results. 

I'm with Andrew on the congestion pricing proposal, and I wouldn't even be affected.  Heck, I even worked on the proposal a bit (and knew it would die a nasty death at the hands of suburban Assembly and Senate members).

And trust me, I oppose him on substantive, as well as personal grounds.

[MarkWarner08]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

If you went into NYC often you probably wouldn't be warming up to the idea so quickly.

I admire his innovative approaches to climate change, poverty, and traffic. While I agree that his smoking and trans-fat bans were nanny-statish, I believe that his views on issues like affordable housing would help trigger an important national debate on these largely ignored problems. For instance, his plan to incentivize vaccinations has already been tried in Mexico City, with great results. 

I'm with Andrew on the congestion pricing proposal, and I wouldn't even be affected.  Heck, I even worked on the proposal a bit (and knew it would die a nasty death at the hands of suburban Assembly and Senate members).

And trust me, I oppose him on substantive, as well as personal grounds.

How do you feel about his poverty-fighting plan? That's the main reason why I support him.

[Sam Spade]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

If you went into NYC often you probably wouldn't be warming up to the idea so quickly.

I admire his innovative approaches to climate change, poverty, and traffic. While I agree that his smoking and trans-fat bans were nanny-statish, I believe that his views on issues like affordable housing would help trigger an important national debate on these largely ignored problems. For instance, his plan to incentivize vaccinations has already been tried in Mexico City, with great results. 

I'm with Andrew on the congestion pricing proposal, and I wouldn't even be affected.  Heck, I even worked on the proposal a bit (and knew it would die a nasty death at the hands of suburban Assembly and Senate members).

And trust me, I oppose him on substantive, as well as personal grounds.

How do you feel about his poverty-fighting plan? That's the main reason why I support him.

I wish him luck.  New York's been trying to fight "poverty" forever, and has never done a very good job of it.  The last half-century or so, poverty-fighting plans certainly helped white people in exiting the city.  Hope he does better.

[MarkWarner08]

Republicans here appear to care more about Bloomberg's views on tobacco and French fries than they do about his plans to reduce poverty, pollution, and pork in the city budget.

Do you always make blanket generalizations?

No, only when I don't get much sleep.

Seriously, what's wrong with my statement. Do you oppose anything of Bloomberg's other issues stances such as his congestion pricing plan?

Yea, I'm not a big fan of that proposal.

At least you're opposing him on substantive grounds.

If you went into NYC often you probably wouldn't be warming up to the idea so quickly.

I admire his innovative approaches to climate change, poverty, and traffic. While I agree that his smoking and trans-fat bans were nanny-statish, I believe that his views on issues like affordable housing would help trigger an important national debate on these largely ignored problems. For instance, his plan to incentivize vaccinations has already been tried in Mexico City, with great results. 

I'm with Andrew on the congestion pricing proposal, and I wouldn't even be affected.  Heck, I even worked on the proposal a bit (and knew it would die a nasty death at the hands of suburban Assembly and Senate members).

And trust me, I oppose him on substantive, as well as personal grounds.

How do you feel about his poverty-fighting plan? That's the main reason why I support him.

I wish him luck.  New York's been trying to fight "poverty" forever, and has never done a very good job of it.  The last half-century or so, poverty-fighting plans certainly helped white people in exiting the city.  Hope he does better.

I agree that poverty is difficult to "fight," but his plan to increase the EITC, create more stringent work requirements, and add market-based incentives for performance in the classroom could stall the vicious cycle of poverty.

[Sam Spade]

Hope springs eternal.  It's definitely better than more handouts, that's for sure.  I wish him luck - that's not my issue with him.