Bloomberg closer to running for president

[Poiuyt]

Bloomberg closer to running for president
New York City mayor encouraged by unsettled 2008 field

Buoyed by the still unsettled field, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is growing increasingly enchanted with the idea of launching an independent presidential bid, and his aides are aggressively laying the groundwork for him to run.

On Sunday, the mayor will join Democratic and Republican elder statesmen at the University of Oklahoma in what the conveners are billing as an effort to pressure the major party candidates to renounce partisan gridlock.

Former Senator David L. Boren of Oklahoma, who organized the session with former Senator Sam Nunn, a Democrat of Georgia, suggested in an interview that if the prospective major party nominees failed within two months to formally embrace bipartisanship and address the fundamental challenges facing the nation, “I would be among those who would urge Mr. Bloomberg to very seriously consider running for president as an independent.”

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And Mr. Bloomberg himself has become more candid in conversations with friends and associates about his interest in running, according to participants in those conversations. Despite public denials, the mayor has privately suggested several scenarios in which he might be a viable candidate: for instance, if the opposing major party candidates are poles apart, like Mike Huckabee, a Republican, versus Barack Obama or John Edwards as the Democratic nominee.

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One concern among Mr. Bloomberg’s inner circle is whether a loss would label him a spoiler — “a rich Ralph Nader” — who cost a more viable candidate the presidency in a watershed political year. One person close to the mayor, who requested anonymity so as not to be seen discussing internal strategy, stressed that Mr. Bloomberg would run only if he believed he could win.

more -

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22445078/

[Truth2Tell]

1. versus Barack Obama or John Edwards

This is the first confirmation of what I have suspected about this shit head's motivation. He's planning to be the spoiler if the Democrats offer up a populist candidate. A rich Ralph Nader is exactly what he would be - minus the progressive values. He'd suck votes from the center rather than the left. This is where the the DLC people go if they don't like our nominee.

Fuck Bloomberg. In fact, I feel a new avatar coming on.

[Luminous Animal]

5. The "center" only exists in the DC swamp.

And the DLC is becoming more and more irrelevant. In my opinion, Obama speaks the same language as the mouth pieces for this wholy manufactured center. There would be no point in running against him. It wouldn't surprise me that, if Obama gets the nomination, Bloomberg or some equivalent gets the nod for VP.

[Truth2Tell]

6. True

I suspect Bloomberg and his CFR/DLC pals are really only worried about Edwards - not Obama.

[Luminous Animal]

2. No such thing as partisan gridlock...

It is Republican obstruction and these old fading pols can go stick their bipartisanship up there ass.

[Purveyor]

3. With more and more ramblings that Ron Paul will bolt to the 3rd party effort, this will be

interesting, indeed!

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. He can't run as an independent

Sore Loser laws in OH and TX - he can't be on the ballot in those states. And no way can he win without those electoral votes.

[Truth2Tell]

7. That's a shame.

If Bloomberg jumps in it would be nice to have Paul out there splitting the Repig vote.

[Purveyor]

8. If he removes his name for the Ohio and TX primary ballot after a poor showing

from Iowa/NH he can. Further, the "Sore Loser" law is up to court challenge in both of those states.