Bloomberg factor

By: relawson
Published On: 1/12/2008 2:00:59 PM

There are rumors circulating around a Bloomberg candidacy as an independent, and that he plans on spending $1,000,000,000 of his own money.  Yes, one billion dollars which is a fraction of his total fortune.

Bloomberg is a lifelong Democrat.  He ran as a Republican in NYC for mayor for practical reasons - so he isn't a Republican at heart.  Let there be no doubt in your mind - if he runs there will be a major impact on the Democratic candidate.  

We can't control if he will run, but we can decide now who we want to run against him.  Who do you believe will beat him and the Republican candidate - and why?  

Comments



Has to be Obama (Glant - 1/13/2008 9:44:31 AM)
Any third party candidate has to run as a candidate of change.  Barack has already done a fairly good job of staking out that position for himself.  Further, as an African-American running against two white males it will be clear which one is more likely to be the candidate with fresh ideas.

Second, If Hillary gets the nomination, Bloomberg will be splitting the New York/Northeast vote.  This might be acceptable if Rudy stages a miracle comeback but if its just Bloomberg/Hillary/McHuckaRomney, I see Hillary as losing ground.



Bloomberg plays to win (tx2vadem - 1/13/2008 4:26:00 PM)
With winner-take-all electors in the vast majority of states and the history of third party/independent candidates, it is hard to see him getting in.  If he wants to play up a certain issue, there are better ways for him to spend his money.  Like the billionaire before him (Perot), he only has the power to deprive someone of a win.  

But who knows, maybe the MSM will goad him into it so that they can boost ratings?



"he only has the power to deprive someone of a win." (relawson - 1/13/2008 10:10:06 PM)
If he sticks to his usual politics, it will be a Democrat deprived of a win because he won't appeal to conservatives.  I doubt he would garner many Republican votes, unless the Republican were a moderate.

I don't see him winning, but I do see him harming the Democratic nominee.