Where Bloomberg Fits in Election

[TwilightGardener]

Where Bloomberg Fits in Election
Opportunity for Run Could Evolve
Based on How Primaries Play Out
By BEN CASSELMAN
December 13, 2007; Page A6

As Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls stumped in Iowa and New Hampshire Monday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in China talking about entrepreneurship. The setting was different, but the goal may have been the same.

Those close to Mr. Bloomberg said the 65-year-old billionaire is considering a White House bid, despite his repeated denials. Moreover, friends and advisers said, developments make a candidacy more conceivable.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg left a press conference after delivering a speech on global warming in Bali, Indonesia, Thursday.
Shifts atop the polls for both parties in early-voting states suggest uncertainty among some voters about the current crop of candidates, while an increasingly nasty campaign could badly bruise whomever comes out on top, Mr. Bloomberg's supporters said. Gridlock in Congress could open the door for Mr. Bloomberg's nonpartisan message. At the same time, national polls show voters worrying more about the economy and less about Iraq -- a trend that plays to Mr. Bloomberg's strengths...

...One scenario -- and the one aides are hoping for -- would be a race between fellow New Yorkers Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Sen. Clinton's negative rating is the highest in either party, while Mr. Giuliani's is the highest among Republicans. That match-up could make what supporters see as Mr. Bloomberg's "above the fray" image more appealing. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Giuliani are also seen as moderate on social issues, which could mute opposition to Mr. Bloomberg from the religious right. "If the parties nominate polarizing candidates...then there's plenty of room" for Mr. Bloomberg, independent pollster John Zogby said.

Another scenario that would provide an opening would be if both parties nominate candidates from outside the center -- John Edwards on the Democratic side, for example, or Republican Mike Huckabee, who leads polls in Iowa and is surging in national surveys. In such a case, Mr. Bloomberg would seek to appeal to moderates. "The terrain that he would look to run on is dead center of the highway," said William Cunningham, Mr. Bloomberg's first-term communications director...

...Democrat Barack Obama, whose attempt to portray himself as transcending partisan warfare is similar to Mr. Bloomberg's stance, also could pose problems for the New York mayor. When Mr. Bloomberg ate breakfast with Sen. Obama in New York last month, some interpreted the move as a signal that he won't run against the Illinois Democrat...

--snip--
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119750876582325411.html?mod=hps_us_inside_today

This article confirms what I've been thinking: that Bloomberg will run if we nominate Hillary or Edwards, but WON'T run if we nominate Obama. Something to think about, and perhaps a good reason to support Obama for those who are undecided among the top three.

[Renew Deal]

1. "One scenario -- and the one aides are hoping for"

The one that aides are hoping for? Does that mean that his views and the view of his aides are different? Is he hoping for the best while they hope for the worst? It sounds like it.

It would be funny if there was a 4 way race. Hillary vs. Guiliani vs. Bloomberg vs. Constitution party (Right wing nut). That's probably how it would play out and I think the far right can get 5% of the vote.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I think Bloomberg doesn't care who runs on the Repub side, as far

as scenarios go--he's only watching the Democrats. I do think it's odd that people on DU largely aren't concerned or interested in the possibility of a three-way race with Bloomberg, the way they were last summer when he switched parties. Maybe his denials were so good, that everyone believed him? All indications say that he is planning to run, and he could really throw the race into a tailspin. Laura Ingraham was ridiculing him this morning, which tells me that he's a threat at least to the Republican party.

[Renew Deal]

6. He is a threat to the republicans

Because their candidates are a horror show. I think many people here realize that. I also think people are so focused on the Democratic race that they're not worried about Bloomberg yet.

Personally, I think Bloomberg is leaning towards running. Obviously something is up with him and Obama.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I am convinced that Bloomberg is a political whore--check this out:

Bloomberg-McCain
New York Sun Editorial
December 13, 2007

The most newsworthy moment in yesterday's Republican presidential debate in Iowa came when Senator McCain was asked about education. Mr. McCain replied by saying, "In New York City today there are remarkable things happening under Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein." It may have been a subtle dig at Mr. Bloomberg's predecessor, Mayor Giuliani, Mr. McCain's rival for the Republican nomination. But it was also a case of Mr. McCain praising, in Mr. Bloomberg, a man who is considering a presidential bid of his own. That consideration is so active, Davidson Goldin reports on our front page today, that Mr. Bloomberg has asked Governor Pataki to hang back from endorsing anyone until Mr. Bloomberg makes up his mind about whether to run.

It raises some possibilities. If Mr. McCain does not win the Republican nomination, perhaps he could fetch up as a vice presidential candidate on Mr. Bloomberg 's independent ticket. Mr. Bloomberg could certainly use the sound bite in television commercials in states where Mr. McCain has a strong following. Mr. McCain, like Mr. Bloomberg, has an independent streak. As a vice presidential pick, he could add foreign-policy heft, Washington experience, military credibility, and a compelling personal story to a Bloomberg ticket. He would also bring regional balance and a Middle-American wholesomeness....

http://www.nysun.com/article/67995

--since McCain will grovel to whoever's in power, he must be expecting Bloomberg to be the Next Big Thing for '08. Notice that he abandoned Rudy. The NY Sun is a rightie-neocon rag (they've been pushing Bloomberg/Lieberman), but an R running with Bloomie could be the split we're looking for. McCain as VP isn't going to pull to anybody to the ticket except GOPers.

[Renew Deal]

8. McCain has been saying for the last 8 years that he's not running for VP

and he doesn't want to be VP. I wonder if he would acquiesce.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Oh, please, he'd take the Veep slot in a second. He's pathetic--

He jumped on the Bush bandwagon, then sucked up to Rudy when he thought Rudy was going to win the nomination, and now has abandoned Rudy for Bloomberg. He's 71 and has been in the Senate for 20 years--he'll grovel on his knees for any kind of promotion. But again, the telling thing about this recent sucking-up is that Bloomberg will be formidable if he runs, because there's no better indicator of political winds than Weathervane McCain.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Bloomberg Would Get In to Throw the Race to the Ghoul

[TwilightGardener]

5. No way. Bloomberg and Rudy DO NOT like each other. They are

barely on speaking terms.

[OHdem10]

4. If he runs , Guilliani is the contributing factor.is my observation.

He has stated that he would not wish to hurt HRC.

While he is no liberal on Fiscal matters, Guilliani has taken the
RW Stand on Cutting Taxes and other ecobomic issues. We all know
or I hope we do, this country is in sad shapte financially .Common
Sense should tell any candidate --it is the height of irresponsiblity
to be promising taxcuts when our debt is so high. The Military
is going to have to be re built--no matter who is President. The
People want something done about Health Care. So many financial
issues.

If Bloomberg runs in my opinion, it will be he does not see any
common sense or pragmatism.

People continue to leave both parties amdbecome Independents because
neither party appears to be concerned about the Common Good.
Neither party is welling to truly stand up against policies which
are destroying the Middle Class. No Country can remain a Democracy
without a functioning and vibrant middle class.