Mike Bloomberg Watch: Hmm, hints it's on again
The off-again-maybe-on-again-maybe-I'm-not-saying-today possible, maybe presidential candidacy of New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg took on some more credibility during the night.
Associates of the mayor told the Associated Press that Bloomberg, a billionaire several times over, has begun an expensive cross-country detailed polling and sophisticated voter analysis in all 50 states as part of his careful, not-so-secret consideration of a White House bid, presumably as an independent.
"They want a hard-headed sense of their chances," Doug Schoen told the AP. He was in charge of Bloomberg's voter database efforts, or microtargeting, for his two campaigns for mayor.
A Bloomberg spokesman declined to comment, which, of course, only heightens the New York media interest in the potential candidacy.
As if two New Yorkers running to run the country wasn't enough.
--Andrew Malcolm
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
Subscribe to this Blog
"The off-again-maybe-on-again-maybe-I'm-not-saying-today possible maybe presidential candidacy..."
Hahaha, well said!
Posted by: matt | January 10, 2008 at 07:17 AM
If Bloomberg runs it will be the best thing for our economy in years. Right now the 2008 White House is looking more and more like anyone can win, so why not Bloomberg?
Start the talk at www.mikebloomberg.blogspot.com
Posted by: Josh | January 10, 2008 at 07:34 AM
It can only be good for the process if Bloomberg runs. At this rate we might get a choice between the Republican who will continue the Bush policies, and the inexperienced Democrat who will also continue the Bush policies.
A real alternative would be excellent.
Posted by: David Hopcroft | January 10, 2008 at 11:17 AM
It would be gravy for the democrats if he runs. I see his candidacy taking votes from GOP voters more than democrats. I think he'd make a great president. It would be a long shot for him to compete but he's a lot more platable to voters than Ross Perot so, who know?
Posted by: Mike | January 10, 2008 at 02:01 PM
if Mike runs, then he'll win! Join the effort for competent leadership http://www.uniteformike.com
Posted by: Andrew MacRae | January 11, 2008 at 05:43 AM
As a supporter of Bloomberg, this is my take on things.
It is rare that you find a presidential candidate that agrees with you on every single issue. But at the end of the day, the President is the executive manager of the world's most powerful enterprise, the US government. I believe most voter's underestimate the value of competence and management experience. What is most important to me is, do they have the competence and the experience to manage such an enterprise? Will they keep the economy strong? Will they make sound judgement in a crisis? Will they hire competent people, or just give valuable positions to unqualified individuals because they either have party connects or "owe" someone because of a campaign contribution?
His money buys him independence of a sort no other candidate can claim.
The fact is, presidents rarely get to implement even a fraction of the so-called promises and policy positions they campaign on. A president's term in office is most largely shaped by events of the day. And a president's successes and failures in dealing with crisis that emerge define most president's term in office more so that any specific piece of legislation that gets passed on their clock.
I vote for competent, private sector management.
Posted by: Michael Bloomberg for President | January 12, 2008 at 09:15 PM
BLOOMBERG / PAUL 2008 - that's the winning ticket.
Posted by: For the People, By the People | January 19, 2008 at 06:22 PM