I just heard on WNYC that Mike Bloomberg — who, you may remember, was a Democrat, then became a Republican to run for mayor because he had a better chance of winning a primary what with the lack of a deep bench (and benchwarmers) on the Republican side, hosted the Republican National Convention, then became an independent when he was term-limited and couldn’t run for mayor again, then decided he wanted to be mayor again after all because he was, in his own mind, irreplaceable, and got the City Council to do an end-run around the twice-approved-by-voters term limits by fiat, and now is talking with the Republicans about rejoining the party and running on their ticket.
Got all that?
Now, billionaire Bloomberg self-finances his campaigns. He’s the mayor, and has been for years. He’s got name recognition up the wazoo. He could easily run as an independent. So why the footsie with the Republicans again?
The only reason I can think of is that he doesn’t want to go through the process of having to get on the ballot as an independent, which requires a bunch of signature gathering and whatnot. While, with his dollars, it would probably be pretty easy, it’s even easier to run on an already established party line. And as a bonus, it gets rid of any potential republican competitors.
He wants to run for president in 2012.
Pure political frottage–Bloomberg just loves rubbing up against
whichever party he thinks will be dazzled by his presence–
hump, hump, hump.
Bloomberg cannot be President. No Mayor of New York can be President. None has in modern times, and only Al Smith’s candidacy fell outside the realm of the also-rans. (Lindsay? Please.) Being mayor of New York is basically disqualifying for the Presidency.
Good to know, Thomas, but he does want to be.
My understanding is that, while money won’t be a problem, ballot lines are. If he creates his own party with his money, but doesn’t get any endorsements, it’ll be way on the right of the ballot with the marijuana reform party and the socialist workers.