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| Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential run on heels of Trump surge | Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential run on heels of Trump surge |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is reportedly weighing a third-party presidential bid in the light of missteps by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, the surge in support for Bernie Sanders, and the unanticipated rise of Donald Trump in the Republican party. | Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is reportedly weighing a third-party presidential bid in the light of missteps by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, the surge in support for Bernie Sanders, and the unanticipated rise of Donald Trump in the Republican party. |
| Related: Trump and Sanders lead two-headed insurgency against establishment | Related: Trump and Sanders lead two-headed insurgency against establishment |
| Bloomberg has directed advisers to draw up plans for an independent campaign, according to the New York Times, a repeat of the exploratory moves the billionaire and former Salomon Brothers trader made in 2008. At that time, Bloomberg concluded he could not win. Sources “familiar with his thinking” confirmed the report about his plans to the Associated Press and Reuters. | |
| However, he has recently indicated to Times’ sources that he is willing to spend at least $1bn of his $37bn fortune on a campaign – should the indications of a win are positive. | |
| Last summer, aides told the Guardian of a similar plan but said that it had gained little traction and had been shelved. | Last summer, aides told the Guardian of a similar plan but said that it had gained little traction and had been shelved. |
| Bloomberg, 73, has set a deadline for making a final decision in early March, according to the report. The deadline would put his decision close to the cut-off for an independent candidate to qualify for the ballots in all 50 states. | Bloomberg, 73, has set a deadline for making a final decision in early March, according to the report. The deadline would put his decision close to the cut-off for an independent candidate to qualify for the ballots in all 50 states. |
| Rumors about a Bloomberg campaign have swirled for years, most prominently when he wound down his third term as mayor of New York. He switched his party affiliation from Republican to independent in 2007. | Rumors about a Bloomberg campaign have swirled for years, most prominently when he wound down his third term as mayor of New York. He switched his party affiliation from Republican to independent in 2007. |
| In December, Bloomberg, who is known to rely highly on data to make policy decisions, commissioned a poll to gauge support for him against Trump and Clinton. Another poll is due after the New Hampshire primary on 9 February. | In December, Bloomberg, who is known to rely highly on data to make policy decisions, commissioned a poll to gauge support for him against Trump and Clinton. Another poll is due after the New Hampshire primary on 9 February. |
| Early plans for a campaign include presenting himself as a bipartisan problem-solver in a series of policy speeches and a massive TV advertising campaign. A member of Bloomberg’s advisory team told the paper the former mayor believes voters want “a non-ideological, bipartisan, results-oriented vision” that is not being offered in the race to date. | |
| An independent candidate has never won the presidency, though they have shaped elections for their rivals. In 1912 former president Theodore Roosevelt ran a popular campaign but split the votes of progressives and Republicans, helping Democrat Woodrow Wilson to victory. | |
| More recently, Texas businessman Ross Perot has been credited with helping Bill Clinton win the presidency in 1992, and Ralph Nader has been accused of siphoning off votes for Democrats and helping turn the 2000 election in Republican George Bush’s favor. | |
| Related: Clinton recalls past New Hampshire success as battle with Sanders wears on | Related: Clinton recalls past New Hampshire success as battle with Sanders wears on |
| In private, Bloomberg has vented his frustration with the current candidates, according to the report, and expressed the view that a Sanders-Trump match-up would present a clear opportunity for a third-party candidate. In 2012, he endorsed Barack Obama, and sources told the Associated Press that Bloomberg has a cordial relationship with Clinton despite his doubts about her campaign’s strength. | |
| Bloomberg has apparently described Clinton as a flawed politician whose campaign is in jeopardy from the continuing investigation into emails on her home computer server while she served as secretary of state. | Bloomberg has apparently described Clinton as a flawed politician whose campaign is in jeopardy from the continuing investigation into emails on her home computer server while she served as secretary of state. |
| Former Democratic National Committee chairman Edward Rendell, told the paper a Bloomberg candidacy would be competitive in the event that wild-card candidates like Trump and Sanders prevail in the primaries. | Former Democratic National Committee chairman Edward Rendell, told the paper a Bloomberg candidacy would be competitive in the event that wild-card candidates like Trump and Sanders prevail in the primaries. |
| Bloomberg’s success, he said, rests “on the not-impossible but somewhat unlikely circumstance of either Donald Trump or Ted Cruz versus Bernie Sanders”. But he also predicted Bloomberg would not enter the race if Clinton, despite shifting to the left, wins the Democratic nomination. | Bloomberg’s success, he said, rests “on the not-impossible but somewhat unlikely circumstance of either Donald Trump or Ted Cruz versus Bernie Sanders”. But he also predicted Bloomberg would not enter the race if Clinton, despite shifting to the left, wins the Democratic nomination. |
| “Mike’s not going to go on a suicide mission,” he said. | “Mike’s not going to go on a suicide mission,” he said. |
| But there are already fears that a Bloomberg insurgency would likely damage a Democrat candidate more than a Republican. | But there are already fears that a Bloomberg insurgency would likely damage a Democrat candidate more than a Republican. |
| Last weekend, Trump described Bloomberg as “friend” and “a great guy”. Bloomberg, who established strict gun control as one of his mayoral policy positions, has not returned the compliment. He is said to find Trump’s positions on immigration unpalateable. | Last weekend, Trump described Bloomberg as “friend” and “a great guy”. Bloomberg, who established strict gun control as one of his mayoral policy positions, has not returned the compliment. He is said to find Trump’s positions on immigration unpalateable. |
| Aides also told the paper any decision would not be dependent on Clinton’s fortunes alone but “the fact is Hillary Clinton is behind in Iowa and New Hampshire. That should scare a lot of people – and it does.” | Aides also told the paper any decision would not be dependent on Clinton’s fortunes alone but “the fact is Hillary Clinton is behind in Iowa and New Hampshire. That should scare a lot of people – and it does.” |