Media Magnate And Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Drawing Up Plans For 2016 White House Run
What could be better than one brash, bold, brazen billionaire running for president? Mike Bloomberg thinks the answer is two.
The founder, owner, and CEO of Bloomberg L.P., a massive media and financial data corporation who managed to win a third term as NYC mayor by convincing the NYC city council to overturn a pre-existing law limiting officeholders to two terms, may run for president – as an independent.
Bloomberg is “galled by Donald J. Trump’s dominance of the Republican field, and troubled by Hillary Clinton’s stumbles and the rise of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on the Democratic side,” The New York Times reports, attributing the view to “advisers and associates.” The 73-year old “has instructed advisers to draw up plans for a potential independent campaign in this year’s presidential race.”
The Times reports Bloomberg “would be willing to spend at least $1 billion of his fortune,” and “has set a deadline for making a final decision in early March, the latest point at which advisers believe Mr. Bloomberg could enter the race and still qualify to appear as an independent candidate on the ballot in all 50 states.”
Bloomberg would enter the race if the GOP nominee is Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, or another far right Republican, and if Bernie Sanders is the Democratic nominee. Bloomberg does not think he can beat Hillary Clinton.
“If Hillary wins the nomination, Hillary is mainstream enough that Mike would have no chance, and Mike’s not going to go on a suicide mission,†Democrat and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, a friend of the former mayor, told the Times.
Like Trump, Mike Bloomberg has been labeled a totalitarian. Like Trump, Bloomberg started as a Democrat, and has been a Republican and an Independent. Like Trump, Bloomberg is a New York billionaire, although didn’t inherit millions and a company.
Responses on Twitter from both the left and the right were not especially positive:
Some offered a different view:
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Image by Matt Law via Flickr and a CC license