Because this election season isn't enough of a circus already....

[The Tradition]

(Reuters) - Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, has told his aides to draw up plans for an independent campaign for the U.S. presidency, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

Bloomberg has advised friends and associates that he would be willing to spend at least $1 billion of his own money on a campaign for the November 2016 election, the Times said, citing sources briefed on the former mayor's thinking.

Bloomberg, 73, has given himself an early March deadline for entering the race, the Times reported, after commissioning a poll in December to see how he would fare against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the current Republican and Democratic frontrunners respectively.

No independent has ever won a U.S. presidential election. But Bloomberg, who has close Wall Street ties and liberal social views, sees an opening for his candidacy if Republicans nominate Trump or Texas Senator Ted Cruz and the Democrats nominate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the Times said.

Bloomberg served as mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013. He switched his party affiliation from Republican to independent in 2007.

http://news.yahoo.com/michael-bloomberg-may-launch-independent-u-presidential-bid-152658508.html

What this country needs is a nationwide Big Gulp ban.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

The question is who would he steal votes from? A wall street loving liberal? Hmm...

 

[soybean]

The question is who would he steal votes from? A wall street loving liberal? Hmm...

He would be left of even Bernie, so...

 

[TexMichFan]

You think gun sales were high under Obama wait until you see what they do with a President Bloomberg.

 

[BondHawk]

The question is who would he steal votes from?

Anyone looking for a candidate who isn't a raving lunatic.

 

[LuteHawk]

Bloomberg is the same clown who banned large soda
drinks in New York City as mayor. As an Independent
he would have around 20% of the vote in a National
Election. I believe Ross Perot got about 17% of the vote
during the George H.W.Bush/Bill Clinton contest.

 

[22*43*51]

All I know is the VP pick for the Dem candidates is going to be huge.

All of the candidates are older than Methuselah and will likely not live to see their first State of the Union address.

 

[pablow]

Bloomberg is the same clown who banned large soda
drinks in New York City as mayor. As an Independent
he would have around 20% of the vote in a National
Election. I believe Ross Perot got about 17% of the vote
during the George H.W.Bush/Bill Clinton contest.

The most recent poll shows Bloomberg with 13% support. Very little of his support is outside the Northeast. If Trump is nominated it might open the door for Trump to pick off a couple of NE states that the Rs never win.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

The most recent poll shows Bloomberg with 13% support. Very little of his support is outside the Northeast. If Trump is nominated it might open the door for Trump to pick off a couple of NE states that the Rs never win.

All Trump would need to do is pick up New York and the electoral map would be challenging for the Dems.

NYC loves Trump and upstate is more conservative. With Bloomberg that would be in play.

 

[hawkcub]

Bloomberg would be to democrats what Ross Perot was to George H.W. Bush.

 

[naturalmwa]

He would be left of even Bernie, so...

On what issue? Soda policy?

 

[IMCC965]

Don't think this is going to happen. He would miss several state's filing deadlines and wouldn't end up with enough electoral votes. If he does, however, the Dem nominee is SCREWED. So bring on Bloomberg.

 

[The Tradition]

Don't think this is going to happen. He would miss several state's filing deadlines and wouldn't end up with enough electoral votes. If he does, however, the Dem nominee is SCREWED. So bring on Bloomberg.

He might just be enough of a megalomaniac to be willing to spend $1 billion dollars just to force his pet causes into the national conversation, even though he realizes he probably won't win.

 

[The Tradition]

He might just be enough of a megalomaniac to be willing to spend $1 billion dollars just to force his pet causes into the national conversation, even though he realizes he probably won't win.

Or he could be thinking, "If Trump can do it..."

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

 

[Jakeleg Jake]

(Reuters) - Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, has told his aides to draw up plans for an independent campaign for the U.S. presidency, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

Bloomberg has advised friends and associates that he would be willing to spend at least $1 billion of his own money on a campaign for the November 2016 election, the Times said, citing sources briefed on the former mayor's thinking.

Bloomberg, 73, has given himself an early March deadline for entering the race, the Times reported, after commissioning a poll in December to see how he would fare against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the current Republican and Democratic frontrunners respectively.

No independent has ever won a U.S. presidential election. But Bloomberg, who has close Wall Street ties and liberal social views, sees an opening for his candidacy if Republicans nominate Trump or Texas Senator Ted Cruz and the Democrats nominate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the Times said.

Bloomberg served as mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013. He switched his party affiliation from Republican to independent in 2007.

http://news.yahoo.com/michael-bloomberg-may-launch-independent-u-presidential-bid-152658508.html

What this country needs is a nationwide Big Gulp ban.

 

[Huey Grey]

I have a hard time believing anyone would jump in the race this late let alone spend $1 billion of their own money to do so. I'll believe it when I see it.