Bloomberg as Obama VP? Here's Some Arguments For It

[DrFunkenstein]

I've had this theory for awhile, but it's still very up for grabs. While it does not follow the regional formula, it would follow Bill Clinton's 1992 strategy of maximizing your strengths instead of minimizing your weaknesses. Clinton and Gore were from the same area of the country, but they both reinforced the ideas of youth and vigor.

For Obama to pick Bloomberg, it would reinforce his calls for bipartisanship while getting a supremely competent man for the #2 spot. Bloomberg has been my mayor for some time now, and while he is not a grand persona like Giuliani or most NYC mayors, he has done a fairly excellent job while setting out an impressive and ambitious agenda for greening the city and other major measures. In short, he's run a tight ship and charted a bold course forward.

The news of a Bloomberg nod would gain tremendous media coverage and launch a thousand magazine covers on the new spirit of bipartisanship.

On top of that, it is no secret that Bloomberg has the bankroll of a small nation, and has suggested that he is willing to use a sizeable chunck of it. Bloomberg and his surrogates have suggested that it would depend on how polarizing the candidates were (read: Clinton) for him to pull a third party run. An Obama run would pull the rug from under his rationale, but a VP nod would certainly make sense for this clearly ambitious man, as it would set up the prospect of a future candidacy with the Democratic party.

Of course, a Bloomberg in the VP slot would mean that Obama missed a chance to put in a Joe Biden to bolster his foreign policy credentials (his judgement I don't doubt, but a lengthy resume seems to go a long way). If he were to choose Bloomberg, he would have to make some sort of major announcements about his Sec of State and/or Sec of Defense to indicate that he'd be surrounded by people of experience. I think Biden would make a fine Secretary of State, I think Biden thinks so too.

I know that some of you may balk at choosing a non-Democrat, but those that know NYC politics understand why he had to put on the ill-fitting suit of the GOP to become mayor. Personally, I do not doubt his commitment to Democratic principles. But I do think that his presence would make a tremendous gesture to the spirit of unity that so many Americans have longed for after the attacks of 9/11 - a spirit of unity that doesn't say "fall in line," but says "we're all in this together, so let's help one another."

And then take that message on a global scale.

[Sulawesi]

1. Webb, rookie senator from VA

[SaveElmer]

2. Bloomberg wouldn't take it...

And it wouldn't help Obama...

Given his inexperience he needs an experienced washington savvy running mate or he will get eaten alive once he takes office....

[DrFunkenstein]

8. First Two Responses Completely Contradict Each Other

I'm a Webb fan, and I'd be thrilled with him on the ticket, regardless of his Beltway experience.

[Flabbergasted]

10. Yep.

Although Bloomberg has executive experience which would be a bonus, I can't see bloomy wanting that job.

Stranger things have happened

[kurth]

3. A better choice for non-Democrat VP: Joseph Lieberman

His bipartisanship is proven.

[maximusveritas]

4. No

He'll pick aa strong Dem like Webb.

[Thrill]

5. Obama-Warner

Big Winning Ticket

[TwilightGardener]

11. We can't lose Webb or Warner for the Senate--VA is about to go full blue

if Warner gets in there.

[TwilightGardener]

6. If Obama really wanted to go bipartisan, it would be Hagel--

foreign policy, military, executive and banking experience, and they seem like two sides of the same coin for some reason. Everybody would think Obama was picking Bloomberg for the money, and that wouldn't look good.

[Inuca]

15. "two sides of the same coin "?

What do you mean?

[Gman]

7. Very simply

the convention would never vote to have Bloomberg on the ticket. There would be a revolution on the convention floor.

[CK_John]

9. A good possibility if the market is below 9500 by Aug 08, which I believe it will be. n/t

[goclark]

12. Sounds like he is more of a Democrat than Joey

From what I'm hearing on television,with his $$'s he could buy the Presidency.

I am also remembering that we have other DEMOCRATS in Congress that have behaved like Rethugs since we got the majority. Hate to bash but Pelosi and Reid have not given us "CHANGE." IMO

My dream ticket would be my guy Obama for President and John Edwards for Vice President but that's just me.

[MH1]

13. Wasn't Bloomberg a Dem before he ran for NY mayor?

In any case there is some confusion about Bloomberg's party affiliation, I think. I had a repub at work tell me that "Bloomberg recently switched to Democrat from being a Republican." (I didn't argue with my coworker - he's already declared he's going independent because he's had enough of both parties, and I don't want to rock that boat - it's better than him voting repub!)

[MaineDem]

14. Will.never.happen

As stated above, the convention would reject it.

The VP will be a Democrat.

[onenote]

16. exactly right